tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77319964667651096002017-09-07T17:41:09.922-07:00Clay's trip logTransitioningClay Ericksonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-47949833241104081482013-09-02T00:34:00.004-07:002017-05-21T06:30:52.481-07:00Random update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are some random pics of my life here lately. I keep the phone handy so I can snap pics, nothin' gets by me. I go into Bangkok sometimes, occasionally to Pattaya, mostly walk around Chonburi where I live and work. Most of these pics made me smile when I took them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's some that were taken in and around Food Land one Saturday morning, one of my favorite places to eat breakfast. It's a small supermarket with about everything I'd need. I was impressed it has high-end scotch and cognac. It's a Bangkok Food Land. You can see some funny and odd things there.<span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpAoHaZGVA/UiQ0HaYKOLI/AAAAAAAAF8Y/rpL4hO79v7c/s1600/Foodland2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bKpAoHaZGVA/UiQ0HaYKOLI/AAAAAAAAF8Y/rpL4hO79v7c/s400/Foodland2a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's leave my love things out of this. I think it's chair scoots.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPeWNuZ-fic/UiR0eWJDyHI/AAAAAAAAGAE/4VNHOgzEGqQ/s1600/RandySquid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPeWNuZ-fic/UiR0eWJDyHI/AAAAAAAAGAE/4VNHOgzEGqQ/s320/RandySquid.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know where they come up with these names.<br />That's what I'd be called if I were a punk rocker or a porn star.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-Gc3Jeufp8/UiQxWQeeCZI/AAAAAAAAF8M/IB8MxMfoFDc/s1600/Foodland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-Gc3Jeufp8/UiQxWQeeCZI/AAAAAAAAF8M/IB8MxMfoFDc/s400/Foodland1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I include this pic&nbsp;because of the orange items on the shelf to the upper left, and the<br />shelves below. It's the saffron robes the monks wear, and other Buddhist gear.<br />I think it is very odd that two stalls down&nbsp;was where the doggy treats were stocked.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tntMeHVcF7E/UiRzFRrzkPI/AAAAAAAAF_s/UoL7p-3tM8Y/s1600/IMG_20130329_214721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tntMeHVcF7E/UiRzFRrzkPI/AAAAAAAAF_s/UoL7p-3tM8Y/s400/IMG_20130329_214721.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Finger....Lickin'.....Good....that is what that says, right?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This well-known American restaurant was outside. I'd like to direct your attention to the motto which we, as Americans, know so well: <i>"It's Finger Lickin' Good!"</i>--except here it is cropped rather...artfully. It's clear to me what it says, because I know what's up. But if you were a Thai, you would consider it&nbsp;the height of bad manners to be licking the grease off your own fingers, and the Colonel sure wouldn't want you, being Thai, to know what his motto has been all these years (if he can help it). Somebody was really on the ball here in making this appeal to Thai markets while keeping as much of the original as possible. If I use my imagination, I suppose it could be read as, <i>"Fine Like Gold"</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02I6_fH0D34/UiRzFPnCwPI/AAAAAAAAF_o/S_EljVcntWw/s1600/IMG_20130329_214826.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02I6_fH0D34/UiRzFPnCwPI/AAAAAAAAF_o/S_EljVcntWw/s400/IMG_20130329_214826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Another fine restaurant outside. I know it's supposed to say "Kakashi", but it sorta looks like it spells something else to me. I'm sorry Kakashi, but once you see it, <i>you'll never un-see it. </i>Now you have to burn each and every one of those signs.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtUFkAWyITI/UiR1IRJTd-I/AAAAAAAAGAM/ND-ic2a1BDM/s1600/IMG_20130524_104044crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GtUFkAWyITI/UiR1IRJTd-I/AAAAAAAAGAM/ND-ic2a1BDM/s320/IMG_20130524_104044crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's amazing how much they can fit on one of these little scooters.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aA65iRIzgdQ/UiRzDC4_7jI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/8yR-FgiY9UY/s1600/MobileCanteen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aA65iRIzgdQ/UiRzDC4_7jI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/8yR-FgiY9UY/s400/MobileCanteen.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You generally see a motorbike like this fixed up having the kitchen as<br />a sidecar affair. I thought this was interesting because he has everything<br />he needs to make a tasty bowl of soup right there on the back of his bike.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JaElE963H_E/UiR5LYyeUjI/AAAAAAAAGAY/c6yA9u8lU1I/s1600/IMG_20130616_125700small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JaElE963H_E/UiR5LYyeUjI/AAAAAAAAGAY/c6yA9u8lU1I/s640/IMG_20130616_125700small.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the motorcycle taxi guys. I use these guys a lot. 20 to 50 baht<br />and they'll take you &nbsp;about anywhere in town you want to go. Some of my students<br />will end up like this guy <i>if they don't start studying!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EjuDslokZo/UiQ4CN0UpmI/AAAAAAAAF8s/ia3hx3JKxDc/s1600/IMG_20130525_114135crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9EjuDslokZo/UiQ4CN0UpmI/AAAAAAAAF8s/ia3hx3JKxDc/s400/IMG_20130525_114135crop.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My left foot after an acupuncturist got done with it.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VF_L3O3V_ac/UiQ5SeJJXdI/AAAAAAAAF88/DiTbIaLzDyE/s1600/IMG_20130611_133214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VF_L3O3V_ac/UiQ5SeJJXdI/AAAAAAAAF88/DiTbIaLzDyE/s400/IMG_20130611_133214.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Thai music teachers sitting around in the music room during<br />an impromptu jam session.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WFsc5c7fRlo/UiQ5R7Jd5ZI/AAAAAAAAF84/NE5fa4dgUCM/s1600/IMG_20130611_133228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WFsc5c7fRlo/UiQ5R7Jd5ZI/AAAAAAAAF84/NE5fa4dgUCM/s320/IMG_20130611_133228.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get down.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A remarkable thing happened this past weekend. I got my first visitor after living at my apartment for almost 6 months. There's an old Thai guy, maybe mid-'70's [edit: 84!], who I see most days taking a very slow stroll up my soi. Slow due to his having had a stroke at some point. He can't speak a word of English, and my Thai is completely dysfunctional, but we say a few words to each other and have sort of become buddies. Anyway, the apartment housekeeper comes and rousts me out of my apartment and motions for me to come downstairs. I thought I was late on my rent payment or something. Here's the old guy, and he has brought along his grand-daughter who studied in Iowa, USA and speaks pretty good English. He just wants to say hello, ask what I'm doing here, how long I've been here, etc. It was really something. It's a big incentive to start learning more Thai quick. Yeah, like that's gonna happen. I will probably enlist the aid of a Thai teacher here and have them write a note to him from me, telling him how much I enjoyed his visit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JugPxEfYdEE/UiQ6r7RgG0I/AAAAAAAAF9M/r5FUbgc50Hk/s1600/IMG_20130622_123437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JugPxEfYdEE/UiQ6r7RgG0I/AAAAAAAAF9M/r5FUbgc50Hk/s320/IMG_20130622_123437.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't duck enough and about knocked myself out <br />going through&nbsp;this bathroom doorway, I kid you not.<br />Do I look pissed off? I sure was when I took this pic.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I heard some noise one Saturday morning and went outside to investigate. They were cutting down all the trees in the lot across the street, and turning them all into lumber. Also bull-dozing some decrepit buildings and removing junk cars, in preparation for some construction I guess.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJRHzP28aBA/UiQ9R6NB4zI/AAAAAAAAF9k/2WAXf--d2wk/s1600/IMG_20130625_165835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJRHzP28aBA/UiQ9R6NB4zI/AAAAAAAAF9k/2WAXf--d2wk/s400/IMG_20130625_165835.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy obviously thinks he has what it takes to be a movie star.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1Vu0AudC3w/UiQ9Rwck9II/AAAAAAAAF9g/eQzqAln7uFI/s1600/IMG_20130625_165842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1Vu0AudC3w/UiQ9Rwck9II/AAAAAAAAF9g/eQzqAln7uFI/s400/IMG_20130625_165842.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were sawing up these old trees for lumber, most of it. She's<br />watching him ham it up for the camera and it's cracking her up.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHFnnV76rxg/UiRAxzolHPI/AAAAAAAAF_I/_jkDeKXNjUo/s1600/IMG_20130830_163454crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHFnnV76rxg/UiRAxzolHPI/AAAAAAAAF_I/_jkDeKXNjUo/s400/IMG_20130830_163454crop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course the mangy bastards and bitches who used to live in that<br />field now just lay around by&nbsp;the side of the road waiting for me to come by.<br />This isn't even half of them. Look, they're as far as the eye can see on up<br />the road there, and there's a dozen more behind me. For god's sake,<br />the racket they make during the night! They're sleeping so they can<br />get busy some more tonight. If you look closely, you can see<br />a white pile of bones to the right there along the fence line.<br />People come by and throw food along the side of the<br />road for them. How the hell did I manage<br />to find an apartment here?</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SquR9rztd8/UiQ9R1RB6EI/AAAAAAAAF9o/WrPBfnVzQ3s/s1600/IMG_20130625_165904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SquR9rztd8/UiQ9R1RB6EI/AAAAAAAAF9o/WrPBfnVzQ3s/s400/IMG_20130625_165904.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't know what kind of wood, dense and hard whatever it was. Probably gonna make some nice furniture.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pE5A6dpcl1o/UiQ-JMlmEXI/AAAAAAAAF94/Dv2Vz1Xx2uo/s1600/IMG_20130626_071828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pE5A6dpcl1o/UiQ-JMlmEXI/AAAAAAAAF94/Dv2Vz1Xx2uo/s400/IMG_20130626_071828.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my pet peeves at the school where I work: women in the men's<br />room. What really irks me is that these Thai teachers don't<br />want me to be using <i>their</i>&nbsp;restroom even as they pee in <i>mine</i>.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCEG2tmT7Mo/UiQ_LVU-29I/AAAAAAAAF-A/xSAc2-W3Ifw/s1600/IMG_20130701_143312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCEG2tmT7Mo/UiQ_LVU-29I/AAAAAAAAF-A/xSAc2-W3Ifw/s320/IMG_20130701_143312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Filipino teachers I work with. Looks like<br />they're a little behind in grading workbooks.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6pPaqsJ3Ug/UiQ_LeguFVI/AAAAAAAAF-M/xAg8S0POn6g/s1600/IMG_20130713_181940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6pPaqsJ3Ug/UiQ_LeguFVI/AAAAAAAAF-M/xAg8S0POn6g/s400/IMG_20130713_181940.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely sunset at Bang Saen Beach. It's a popular getaway with Thais,<br />only about an hour and a half from Bangkok. I wouldn't want to swim there though.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJNw3oeNJjw/UiQ_PgQHi6I/AAAAAAAAF-Y/5vu1WxRpymU/s1600/IMG_20130728_125023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sJNw3oeNJjw/UiQ_PgQHi6I/AAAAAAAAF-Y/5vu1WxRpymU/s320/IMG_20130728_125023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wonderful family style meal amongst Thai friends during a visit to Bangkok.<br />My number one reason for learning Thai: how to order food properly and effectively.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went with my buddy Vijo to the Chatuchak Weekend Market one weekend because he wanted to see the animals. This market is so huge. Just the section where all the animals are sold was huge, it's like a small zoo. All during the walkaround of the animal section we snacked on yummy food. I won't bore you with pics of all of it, but I had to include this paella which was about 1 meter in diameter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNmeRbdC-nk/UiQ_LQA1DLI/AAAAAAAAF-E/E6v18kbSgKk/s1600/IMG_20130707_120103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dNmeRbdC-nk/UiQ_LQA1DLI/AAAAAAAAF-E/E6v18kbSgKk/s400/IMG_20130707_120103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;"><div style="text-align: center;">A beautiful paella cooked by some European guy in a Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">getup at the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Man, this place is huge.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IJkqoBhVvjo/UiQ_QeX78hI/AAAAAAAAF-k/2SYtpZFIyJU/s1600/IMG_20130804_141151small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IJkqoBhVvjo/UiQ_QeX78hI/AAAAAAAAF-k/2SYtpZFIyJU/s400/IMG_20130804_141151small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweating like crazy at the Chatuchak Weekend Market.<br />We took a few hours to go check out the animals. You can<br />buy about anything here. They told me that, up until recently,<br />you could buy a leopard here if you wanted one. I didn't see<br />any leopards, but I did see some bat-eared foxes. That can't be legal.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK, had to clean out my camera folder and get rid of some of these pics. Hope you like some of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-78385785394048392982013-07-24T01:34:00.001-07:002014-10-20T04:21:22.276-07:00Recent tripsThings have been kind of low key and boring since I started a job here in Chonburi. That's fine with me, a boring job is preferable to the job search process. This school gives good paid holidays, and I've been trying to make the most of them. Here's some trips I've managed on holidays while I've had this job, thought it would be best to write about them before I forget.<br /><br />A few months ago we took a little trip out to Kanchanaburi, site of the Death Railway popularized by the movie Bridge Over The River Kwai. It's popular with Thai people and farangs alike due to the beauty of the countryside. I bought a 2 or 3 night stay at a place called Monsane Resort when we went to a travel fair early this year at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok. It seemed like a good deal at the time, though I found out later it didn't get such good reviews. It was OK, the room was small but the breakfasts were OK. We spent the days out traveling around anyway and only slept there pretty much, which is the way it should be. Next time I'll just go there and find some place down on the river. I think you can find some pretty cheap places, and actually on the water.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1UtzvwzDDY/UezPd_y0t-I/AAAAAAAAF0A/KiSI8Zg1S3o/s1600/IMG_20130507_121205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L1UtzvwzDDY/UezPd_y0t-I/AAAAAAAAF0A/KiSI8Zg1S3o/s320/IMG_20130507_121205.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the entrance road to the hotel, a gravel<br />quarry. Not really very good beginning. Oh well,<br />the reservations were bought and paid for.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A lot of time we spent driving. It's kind of spread out, and the maps were not the best. My GPS pissed me off, don't know what's up with it, wasn't very reliable. Could be we were too far out in the sticks or something. There were couple of sites we never could find, another museum and a place called Hellfire Pass.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcI8JsGNAic/UezLbBTUDcI/AAAAAAAAFy0/cI8MrzclVAc/s1600/IMG_20130505_113312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcI8JsGNAic/UezLbBTUDcI/AAAAAAAAFy0/cI8MrzclVAc/s400/IMG_20130505_113312.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Death Railway". I'm not really sure what<br />is the real thing and what is reconstructed.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We found the places close to town easily enough. It's a big province and we hardly tried to see it all. Here's a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kittiraftkanchanaburi.com/images/main_1215677467/Kanchanaburi_Map.jpg" target="_blank">map</a>&nbsp;which shows that Kanchanaburi is about the first thing you get to from Bangkok. Erawan Waterfalls, where the water exits Sri Nakarin (I'm assuming Si means Lake in Thai)&nbsp;is the furthest north we ventured. But even at about 70 km from Kanchanaburi City it's still not in the middle of the province. I understand there is public transportation to most of the popular places, but you really need a car if you want to explore the area.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of which, I got a chance to drive around a deserted patch of roadway last week. You know they drive on the left here? It was my first time. I thought I was doing quite well indeed. I think I even said, "Piece of cake!" Then I tried to pull over to park and drove right up onto the curb. It was humbling. I'm considering buying a car, but I'll have to go through an actual driving course. They tell me that's not required here to get a Thai driver's license, only have to pay the fee and watch a 90 or so minute video. If that's true, it explains a lot.<br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJNBgjBqB8A/UezPGqOdzYI/AAAAAAAAFzY/uygsdfHl20U/s1600/IMG_20130505_113833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJNBgjBqB8A/UezPGqOdzYI/AAAAAAAAFzY/uygsdfHl20U/s400/IMG_20130505_113833.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the same spot, just turned 90 degrees to the<br />left to have a look down the river.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfx9bE7vyfg/UezLbVNb1iI/AAAAAAAAFyw/-fTfma8U87M/s1600/IMG_20130505_132420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfx9bE7vyfg/UezLbVNb1iI/AAAAAAAAFyw/-fTfma8U87M/s400/IMG_20130505_132420.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a very nice looking area where we stopped<br />to have lunch. Nice and comfortable, under what I assume<br />is the remainder of the Death Railway.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz2kN3JplO8/Ue3f_YdtMiI/AAAAAAAAF0w/iVDSh3sdiW8/s1600/450795603500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jz2kN3JplO8/Ue3f_YdtMiI/AAAAAAAAF0w/iVDSh3sdiW8/s400/450795603500.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some beautiful views from our restaurant</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osIHAOaKdxo/UezPMTjgCNI/AAAAAAAAFzg/oHPUqR7THis/s1600/IMG_20130506_120607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osIHAOaKdxo/UezPMTjgCNI/AAAAAAAAFzg/oHPUqR7THis/s640/IMG_20130506_120607.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on a visit to Erawan Falls, about 35 KM north of the town. It seems I remember there being 9&nbsp;levels. I think this was level 5. Wow, so many people, couldn't even find a place to sit down, so we kept climbing.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEqx1ZPyz4Q/UezLaYX1hLI/AAAAAAAAFyo/LHm4ehyVLNM/s1600/IMG_20130506_122423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEqx1ZPyz4Q/UezLaYX1hLI/AAAAAAAAFyo/LHm4ehyVLNM/s400/IMG_20130506_122423.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped at this one which I think was level 7. The ones<br />lower than this were inundated by bikini and Speedo clad Russians,<br />and we had gotten a little tired of climbing by this point anyway.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oniyZ1ZdDGU/UezPUyy13cI/AAAAAAAAFzo/qe5tiBiFLqE/s1600/IMG_20130506_124202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oniyZ1ZdDGU/UezPUyy13cI/AAAAAAAAFzo/qe5tiBiFLqE/s320/IMG_20130506_124202.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was lovely, with schools of little fish that would chew on you if<br />you stood still. I hear some people pay to have this done<br />on their feet. We both&nbsp;found it excruciating, just on the feet. If<br />you actually get in the water and hold still they are nibbling <i>everywhere.</i>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIquxx1fh3Q/UezLe7nTWtI/AAAAAAAAFzA/Q0cQevKqzck/s1600/IMG_20130506_122658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dIquxx1fh3Q/UezLe7nTWtI/AAAAAAAAFzA/Q0cQevKqzck/s400/IMG_20130506_122658.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very nice, but extremely slippery. You really have to&nbsp;watch it.<br />Yes, yes, I bought another pair of swim trunks already.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODECGaz26io/UezPaLYJ2oI/AAAAAAAAFz4/pxzAYDoUTPY/s1600/IMG_20130506_122734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ODECGaz26io/UezPaLYJ2oI/AAAAAAAAFz4/pxzAYDoUTPY/s640/IMG_20130506_122734.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waterfall had created cascading pools, and each of them had dozens of the little fish.<br />I would have liked to laze about in them, but I couldn't take the nibbling.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kt4H88jsPU4/UezPFImusvI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/gFrsPSrhRjA/s1600/IMG_20130505_114954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kt4H88jsPU4/UezPFImusvI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/gFrsPSrhRjA/s400/IMG_20130505_114954.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The train pulled in as we were walking off the bridge.<br />Didn't buy a ticket to go on it.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5f7GZi1zbA/Ue3f-BhTctI/AAAAAAAAF0g/ZUJaGQEBFyg/s1600/450795603366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5f7GZi1zbA/Ue3f-BhTctI/AAAAAAAAF0g/ZUJaGQEBFyg/s400/450795603366.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to one of the museums which included a display of weapons and unexploded ordnance.<br />There were&nbsp;quite a few photos of the period, and many paintings&nbsp;done by the&nbsp;prisoners themselves<br />vividly documenting atrocities. They were quite graphic, and I don't include any here.&nbsp;I knew<br />thousands of allied prisoners were killed in the&nbsp;years of Japanese occupation, but&nbsp;I was<br />surprised to learn of the slaughter of far more&nbsp;local Thais and Burmese<br />than allied prisoners. You don't hear about that much.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8X3uyeLP5g/UezPXY1WfaI/AAAAAAAAFzw/tskJmovrkOY/s1600/IMG_20130507_094515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8X3uyeLP5g/UezPXY1WfaI/AAAAAAAAFzw/tskJmovrkOY/s400/IMG_20130507_094515.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to include this unfortunate display, which was not a joke. It's an under-funded<br />attempt by the museum staff to indicate what loading of the prisoners onto<br />Death&nbsp;Railway boxcars might have looked like. The result looks like a set<br />from an episode of&nbsp;Robot Chicken. Somebody needs to donate a<br />few thousand bucks so they can make some decent exhibits.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_zFCGD61o0/Ue3f-mnZwOI/AAAAAAAAF0s/OefTJVHhbdo/s1600/450795539716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_zFCGD61o0/Ue3f-mnZwOI/AAAAAAAAF0s/OefTJVHhbdo/s400/450795539716.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ended the day with a visit to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery of the <br />allied prisoners and Bridge over the River Kwai. It was peaceful and moving.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qjDx552NpJ4/UezPd0DuVVI/AAAAAAAAF0E/neuKxKn2v0E/s1600/IMG_20130507_113337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qjDx552NpJ4/UezPd0DuVVI/AAAAAAAAF0E/neuKxKn2v0E/s640/IMG_20130507_113337.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had coffee at Obama's Coffee shop in downtown Kanchanaburi. Nice Houdini-like picture of him<br />conjuring treats for you. There was&nbsp;a poster of Adolph Hitler inside too, weird. Good coffee and service.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kanchanaburi was nice. I'd go again, but would probably try to find a cheaper place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somebody I know hates&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran_(Thailand)" target="_blank">Songkran</a>&nbsp;because of all the drunk driving, partying and water throwing, so she wanted to get out of the country. I was kind of curious about the festival, have certainly heard a lot about it, but maybe next year. I've never been to Malaysia either. This somebody and me took the cheapest vacation we could find and went to spend four days in&nbsp;<a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Kuala_Lumpur/Golden_Triangle" target="_blank">Kuala Lumpur</a>.&nbsp;She loves to travel and often keeps her eye on the Air Asia website, and has come away with some spectacular deals. Latest one has been round trip flights for two to Chiang Rai this coming October. She snagged a special on there for 600 baht, and that includes taxes and fees!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qK4VkOmtpHY/UZbeLoxkRQI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/bTByRHEhaWY/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qK4VkOmtpHY/UZbeLoxkRQI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/bTByRHEhaWY/s400/IMG_1225.JPG" height="326" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The monorail in KL. Not very long, or fast.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4Z6h1zFpPQ/UZbaWwvkpcI/AAAAAAAAFoo/Cr_iX0LbnO4/s1600/IMG_1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4Z6h1zFpPQ/UZbaWwvkpcI/AAAAAAAAFoo/Cr_iX0LbnO4/s400/IMG_1056.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px; text-align: center;">The twin towers during the day...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">What a weird sensation to visit a place that looks pretty much like Thailand in most ways. I could not tell much difference in the Malaysian people from the Thai people most of the time just by looking at them, but here's the thing: everyone and I mean everyone speaks English in Kuala Lumpur. They are way, way ahead of Thailand in the adoption of English. Why is that? In any case, it was convenient.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_WdVhN9ZiQ/UZCV_JUY9NI/AAAAAAAAFio/Rd6BebHaYbI/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_WdVhN9ZiQ/UZCV_JUY9NI/AAAAAAAAFio/Rd6BebHaYbI/s320/IMG_1066.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.199999809265137px;"><div style="text-align: center;">...and at night.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was hot when we went. We went all over the city to try to see many of the main attractions but several were closed for renovations of some kind or other when we got there. We took all the modes of transportation that are available in the city, including the monorail. It was all pretty well-done, similar to Bangkok, but it needs to be drawn together into one system, with one fare.<br /><br />It's been a couple months now, and memories are already fading. I should learn by now to write these things down before too long.<br /><br />I remember a Mexican food restaurant that we found while searching for the main drag, where all the tourists go. We were really hot and tired after walking around looking for somewhere to have dinner, so stopped at some little bar where we could relax and have a beer to cool off. Taking that opportunity to check the GPS led us to what appeared to be the main drag of tourist places. There were many, many places that looked enticing but we settled on the Mexican place, don't know why. Went upstairs and caught a &nbsp;breeze to watch the street below and have a drink. It was nice.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCy_Ar-h_uU/UZbdrOwP-yI/AAAAAAAAFqI/TBk0DYOl1D4/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LCy_Ar-h_uU/UZbdrOwP-yI/AAAAAAAAFqI/TBk0DYOl1D4/s640/IMG_1212.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the roof of the Mexican restaurant watching all the tourists walking by below</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uLSuTQ31Ih4/UfIP-eVa4lI/AAAAAAAAF3o/EuyAOQSU_qA/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uLSuTQ31Ih4/UfIP-eVa4lI/AAAAAAAAF3o/EuyAOQSU_qA/s400/IMG_1063.JPG" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She drank all of that beer and wouldn't give me any.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-05W5pZ9Q5Mk/UZbaeMSSZ7I/AAAAAAAAFow/75jFLGTtO7o/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-05W5pZ9Q5Mk/UZbaeMSSZ7I/AAAAAAAAFow/75jFLGTtO7o/s400/IMG_1062.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I got one of my own.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx_RsGDNpJY/UZCZJy2uSiI/AAAAAAAAFkk/2uWFjLrvcco/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx_RsGDNpJY/UZCZJy2uSiI/AAAAAAAAFkk/2uWFjLrvcco/s640/IMG_1110.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div><br />We did so much walking. It was during a time that my knee and hip were giving me problems, but I powered through it and I think the activity was good for me as I didn't feel any worse as the days wore on. Very hot until we went to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.co.th/search?q=genting+highlands&amp;safe=off&amp;rlz=1C1CHVN_enTH518TH518&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=GXzvUaG6HsvCkQXfo4DoCg&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&amp;biw=861&amp;bih=455" target="_blank">Genting Highlands</a>. This place was really something. It wasn't my idea to go there. A completely manufactured fairy-tale land way up in the mountains. Some reviews said it was like a cross between a shabby Disneyland and Las Vegas without the alcohol. I don't like either of those places, and we'd had enough of it after only a few hours.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CiVhfFA9SwE/UfIR2QiNjnI/AAAAAAAAF34/c2Np7ZEka-k/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CiVhfFA9SwE/UfIR2QiNjnI/AAAAAAAAF34/c2Np7ZEka-k/s640/IMG_1123.JPG" height="474" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty well done model of the entire area. It's all self-contained and<br />&nbsp;like they plopped it all right down on a mountain top. &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I think the best part of it was the spectacular trip up the mountains and back down in the cable car. We got really lucky in the queue to go back--I spotted a short line, headed for it, Jeab showed the guy our ticket stub that proved we would miss our bus if we didn't catch it, and we were on the next car out. It happened really fast.&nbsp;Otherwise would have had to wait hours like the thousand other people queued up.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xw6D4bJsv4s/UZbay4-8c5I/AAAAAAAAFo4/r_Yf0ZpK1CM/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xw6D4bJsv4s/UZbay4-8c5I/AAAAAAAAFo4/r_Yf0ZpK1CM/s640/IMG_1082.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the facility, view from behind as we head up the mountains</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o12fDLqs-dI/UZba8Ue0IxI/AAAAAAAAFpA/_Tf-I9oqv_A/s1600/IMG_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o12fDLqs-dI/UZba8Ue0IxI/AAAAAAAAFpA/_Tf-I9oqv_A/s400/IMG_1085.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkQ57dNwFE/UZCW1fjxX1I/AAAAAAAAFjM/nZ2teEvM-mo/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPkQ57dNwFE/UZCW1fjxX1I/AAAAAAAAFjM/nZ2teEvM-mo/s400/IMG_1090.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--qNPlx37QnI/Ue-ULWiDWkI/AAAAAAAAF2o/iGp0bAgmZZQ/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--qNPlx37QnI/Ue-ULWiDWkI/AAAAAAAAF2o/iGp0bAgmZZQ/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody's not afraid of heights</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP82_6B8RyU/UZbbjbKaGMI/AAAAAAAAFpU/Tr0DKqSX8S0/s1600/IMG_1101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP82_6B8RyU/UZbbjbKaGMI/AAAAAAAAFpU/Tr0DKqSX8S0/s400/IMG_1101.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVk7D8gwVV0/UZCYSY7eSxI/AAAAAAAAFkA/NSEdlLo90TE/s1600/IMG_1100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVk7D8gwVV0/UZCYSY7eSxI/AAAAAAAAFkA/NSEdlLo90TE/s400/IMG_1100.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a little scary. Do I look scared?</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14px;">During our time in Kuala Lumpur we tried to do a walking tour to see some notable sights.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merdeka_Square,_Kuala_Lumpur" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">Merdeka (Independence) Square</a><span style="font-size: 14px;">&nbsp;had some nice little shaded spots that allowed a welcome break.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dZ6gqzaPc/UZbcTuUlrjI/AAAAAAAAFpk/Jb5AqGhB84g/s1600/IMG_1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dZ6gqzaPc/UZbcTuUlrjI/AAAAAAAAFpk/Jb5AqGhB84g/s640/IMG_1159.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merdeka Square</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYMzTD3oWso/Ue9-12CiQJI/AAAAAAAAF1A/8TKodwRCgwI/s1600/IMG_20130415_113418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VYMzTD3oWso/Ue9-12CiQJI/AAAAAAAAF1A/8TKodwRCgwI/s640/IMG_20130415_113418.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">One of the shady spots around the square.&nbsp;</span>I could almost hear the oud playing.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKtXnwDhf-Q/UZbZDd_Gn3I/AAAAAAAAFoM/Nb3QpHTcGZ0/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKtXnwDhf-Q/UZbZDd_Gn3I/AAAAAAAAFoM/Nb3QpHTcGZ0/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;">A very</span><span style="text-align: right;">&nbsp;large</span><span style="text-align: right;">&nbsp;mosque</span><span style="text-align: right;">&nbsp;that we visited required Jeab to put on</span><span style="text-align: right;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: right;">an ill-fitting covering, head to toe.&nbsp;</span>She was not pleased.&nbsp;They<br />were available for women to check out and return when you leave.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwrZkQrXpfs/UZCV9q3KvJI/AAAAAAAAFig/EjQXaZdiQU8/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwrZkQrXpfs/UZCV9q3KvJI/AAAAAAAAFig/EjQXaZdiQU8/s640/IMG_1035.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was big.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4iUvraz7oI/UZCWaiYx05I/AAAAAAAAFi0/Z_MzdLcSKZ0/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4iUvraz7oI/UZCWaiYx05I/AAAAAAAAFi0/Z_MzdLcSKZ0/s640/IMG_1028.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And very pretty on the inside.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrrrjZjafck/Ue-VNWr_vBI/AAAAAAAAF28/7a71E56-XZg/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rrrrjZjafck/Ue-VNWr_vBI/AAAAAAAAF28/7a71E56-XZg/s400/IMG_1044.JPG" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think they said this was secretary of state. It was yet another<br />large building we saw while walking around. The parts I liked the<br />best about this trip was spending time with my partner having<br />something good to eat and drink.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The last day (I think) we went to see a fabulous gold Buddha. That was worth the long walk up the stairs, and the caves at the top were a bonus.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46-GT7MVXxY/Ue9-19qv8xI/AAAAAAAAF1E/Hu6bYQC1If8/s1600/IMG_20130415_133040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46-GT7MVXxY/Ue9-19qv8xI/AAAAAAAAF1E/Hu6bYQC1If8/s640/IMG_20130415_133040.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cMkCQZxOFw/Ue9-8bqq_CI/AAAAAAAAF1g/y06WEeigSy0/s1600/IMG_20130415_134009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cMkCQZxOFw/Ue9-8bqq_CI/AAAAAAAAF1g/y06WEeigSy0/s640/IMG_20130415_134009.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was a lot of stairs, and really steep. The big Buddha was to the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2fz4ana_b0/UZCcsL1E2TI/AAAAAAAAFlk/M1soxaDv_ls/s1600/IMG_20130415_134419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2fz4ana_b0/UZCcsL1E2TI/AAAAAAAAFlk/M1soxaDv_ls/s640/IMG_20130415_134419.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cave was <i>huge</i>. After getting up to the top of the<br />stairs, got to go down some more to the floor of the big cave, and <br />then across the cave floor and up the steps at the far<br />end to another area with shrines and monkeys. Lots of monkeys.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDA3ldhF7a8/UfIP2qsJ5cI/AAAAAAAAF3g/wcnPsDPXuck/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDA3ldhF7a8/UfIP2qsJ5cI/AAAAAAAAF3g/wcnPsDPXuck/s640/IMG_1193.JPG" height="640" width="474" /></a><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1oWxbeIIL8/UZbdHW-75tI/AAAAAAAAFp0/uStba7ia3rs/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N1oWxbeIIL8/UZbdHW-75tI/AAAAAAAAFp0/uStba7ia3rs/s640/IMG_1203.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of one of the shrines at the far cave</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFFNUfWHGuQ/UZCcze_C4KI/AAAAAAAAFls/MKqEKpIdE50/s1600/IMG_20130415_135609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFFNUfWHGuQ/UZCcze_C4KI/AAAAAAAAFls/MKqEKpIdE50/s400/IMG_20130415_135609.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very small shrine carved into the rock at the far end of the<br />cave at the&nbsp;top of the steps. Nothing stopping anyone from walking<br />on up there and getting your picture taken amongst the dieties</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anywhere with shade was a good place to be. One day we went looking for, eventually found and went walking around a big market for a few hours. Seems we saw the same stuff here that you see in Bangkok everywhere. I wonder if everything is made in some vast factory in China. I bought some key rings as souvenirs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqCrtXtfL_8/Ue9_BhMCGNI/AAAAAAAAF18/7di4p3cs8cU/s1600/IMG_20130415_163909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqCrtXtfL_8/Ue9_BhMCGNI/AAAAAAAAF18/7di4p3cs8cU/s640/IMG_20130415_163909.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street market in downtown KL somewhere.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPSPAz2FxLU/UZbdmfvKWFI/AAAAAAAAFqA/PrROsyTh8fY/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPSPAz2FxLU/UZbdmfvKWFI/AAAAAAAAFqA/PrROsyTh8fY/s640/IMG_1211.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It just now occurs to me, this pic is in almost the same spot the above pic<br />is. That hawkers association sign above tipped me off. We must have walked<br />in a big circle, or come back the same way.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_APlLNJOyQ/Ue9_EK-LyzI/AAAAAAAAF2I/vvzSiC4exDs/s1600/IMG_20130415_192617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_APlLNJOyQ/Ue9_EK-LyzI/AAAAAAAAF2I/vvzSiC4exDs/s640/IMG_20130415_192617.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street market as the sun began to go down and lights came on.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmyMMwxirEQ/Ue-U-NR0b6I/AAAAAAAAF24/ob_Kc4AhWSo/s1600/IMG_1120rotated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LmyMMwxirEQ/Ue-U-NR0b6I/AAAAAAAAF24/ob_Kc4AhWSo/s320/IMG_1120rotated.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First World Hotel in Genting Highlands, the biggest hotel in KL.<br />Found myself wishing I had a wall map like that.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, that's it for today, this post is already too big as it is. Actually, there's more little trips so I need to follow up on this one. I'll try not to go so long before posting next time.&nbsp;</div></div></div></div></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-86857567468212318982013-05-17T21:02:00.000-07:002013-05-19T16:13:37.406-07:00Settled in Chonburi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The month-long summer term already came and went. Now it's the end of the first week of the 2013-14 school term. I'm going have to squeeze in some more time to get up to date with what's been going on. I haven't really been able to get into this as a daily diary sort of thing. Unfortunately that results in humongous posts. Here's a pic of the school, Sarasas Witaed Chonburi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4O6rROIjb20/UZCduItAdLI/AAAAAAAAFmI/ew-Yjeh9QWQ/s1600/IMG_20130411_141937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4O6rROIjb20/UZCduItAdLI/AAAAAAAAFmI/ew-Yjeh9QWQ/s400/IMG_20130411_141937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building is pretty much done. The smaller looking one on the right actually<br />goes lengthwise towards the back, so it's almost as big. All the other campus'<br />have these sorts of buildings, which are very Catholic looking. The other campus'<br />have two or three other buildings like this, very large schools with over 4,000<br />kids each.&nbsp;I think we might have around 1,500 and we just opened.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not doing any of the things I was going to do: exercise, practice lute and singing, write, etc. It's been so time consuming to get here and I've felt drained of energy for quite some time. Two back to back bouts of food poisoning and hurting my knee and hip made me give up on exercising for a while. I was getting into it back in December and January. Will have to ease back into it now that things have settled down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finding and getting settled into another apartment was something of an ordeal. I was so sick of moving every couple of months. It's a long way between southwest Bangkok and Chonburi City. For the first couple of weeks I was commuting in the school van, that was over 3 hours round trip. Left my apartment in the dark and got back in the dark. Wow, I'm not getting paid enough for that. But I held on, figuring it was only temporary and things would be better when I got to Chonburi.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8O8W_la-C-M/UZbg5fHh7PI/AAAAAAAAFrc/qove77XOYXU/s1600/IMG_20130411_103545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8O8W_la-C-M/UZbg5fHh7PI/AAAAAAAAFrc/qove77XOYXU/s640/IMG_20130411_103545.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am at the Songkran ceremony. I'm surely the oldest&nbsp;teacher<br />there, and this is about honoring your elders, so&nbsp;I must have done this about<br />300 times. There are some of&nbsp;my fellow teachers who did the other 1,000.<br />This is a Thai&nbsp;teacher demonstrating to the students how to do it: put a small<br />garland on my hands, pour a few drops of scented water on them,&nbsp;then I stroke<br />some&nbsp;of the water on their head while giving them&nbsp;my blessing, which went <br />something like "Health, wealth and happiness to you".</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfryUHjBZ50/UZbkmISI8_I/AAAAAAAAFtA/j94oPgQaZzk/s1600/IMG_20130503_124333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfryUHjBZ50/UZbkmISI8_I/AAAAAAAAFtA/j94oPgQaZzk/s640/IMG_20130503_124333.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the place I wound up at. It's 4,200 baht/month, no hot water,<br />had to buy my own refrigerator for about 5,700 baht, curtains for 1,000.<br />That road there goes about 180&nbsp;meters down to the main road, then I catch<br />a songteaw to the school. It's about 15 min. door to door.<br />I'm the only farang living here. It's quiet and has air conditioning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VGEp4RboI8/UZbkPTQjHMI/AAAAAAAAFso/Azof0FkC_Ck/s1600/IMG_20130503_124324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VGEp4RboI8/UZbkPTQjHMI/AAAAAAAAFso/Azof0FkC_Ck/s640/IMG_20130503_124324.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's looking the other direction, up into the neighborhoods</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I had to live in the teacher housing furnished by the school for the first week and a half I was here, 2 bedroom condos they bought and rent to teachers for 3,000 baht per month. Good rule of thumb is that 1,000 baht = $30. Pretty good deal for a nice condo, but when I got there they weren't even finished building it. It was a construction site, dirt all over everything, no kitchen facilities. Furniture that was there was straight from the furniture store, completely wrapped in plastic. There was no water when I moved in, so the management brought each unit two large trash cans full of water. I don't know what the hell they thought I was going to do with that water, I don't know where it came from. I used it for hand washing some clothes and flushing the toilets. Of course you had to go buy some containers to carry the water to the toilet.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YigHXm4Opl0/UZbklsjUUzI/AAAAAAAAFs8/alLj85bLqEc/s1600/IMG_20130503_123556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YigHXm4Opl0/UZbklsjUUzI/AAAAAAAAFs8/alLj85bLqEc/s640/IMG_20130503_123556.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a walk up into the soi's one day, just strolling around. Wasn't bothered<br />by too many dogs, and people ignored me for the most part.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They got the water turned on the second day, but the next day there was a leak somewhere and the first floor was flooded, so it was off again for a couple days. It was a nightmare. Actually, it was like camping out in a construction site but I forgot to bring my camping gear. And they want us to live 4 teachers to a unit. I'm just a little too long in the tooth to be sharing a bedroom with another man, so I bailed out of that as soon as I could find another apartment. That was a huge chore, looking for an apartment in the heat, talking to Thais about various things like leases and rent schemes, finding someone to move my stuff. Frankly, I don't know how I would have done it without Jeab's help. She has been a life saver. My life here would be a lot different without her help and support.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQpUBOwRJvA/UZbeyL_cuqI/AAAAAAAAFqg/SnuHXgPy7r4/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQpUBOwRJvA/UZbeyL_cuqI/AAAAAAAAFqg/SnuHXgPy7r4/s320/IMG_1260.JPG" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZUeU8CVjW0/UZbkz0tJlcI/AAAAAAAAFtI/wvEVLvkwIrk/s1600/IMG_20130503_123627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZUeU8CVjW0/UZbkz0tJlcI/AAAAAAAAFtI/wvEVLvkwIrk/s640/IMG_20130503_123627.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I was walking up and around the neighborhood near me,<br />I heard someone say "Hello". That's pretty unusual for around here.<br />It came from this house.&nbsp;I guess you would call all the houses<br />around here "town homes", sharing a wall. The units are as<br />wide as those two half walls, and go up 3 stories usually.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNSBVghhCQM/UZbk6vOMG8I/AAAAAAAAFtU/6TjuUFYHH5U/s1600/IMG_20130503_123907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNSBVghhCQM/UZbk6vOMG8I/AAAAAAAAFtU/6TjuUFYHH5U/s640/IMG_20130503_123907.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I walked up to the door and found three lovely ladies inside. The one<br />on the left is Pum Pui, she spoke English pretty well and we had<br />a conversation for about 15 min. through the locked grate. Sister<br />on the right and mother in the middle. &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfbHR7Xks9E/UZbk7D0iBCI/AAAAAAAAFtY/KqZHziAugSg/s1600/IMG_20130503_124131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfbHR7Xks9E/UZbk7D0iBCI/AAAAAAAAFtY/KqZHziAugSg/s640/IMG_20130503_124131.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wanted to know where I was going, I said I was looking<br />for some place to buy some lunch. They gave me<br />some of what they were eating and refused my money.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>One weekend Jeab and I packed up all my stuff that was still in my apartment in Bangkok and brought it all down here in a pickup. We spent all of a Saturday driving around looking for a place. Nothing panned out. Have I mentioned there's a problem getting decent housing in this area? I knew of a place that was supposed to be really nice, kitchen, gym even swimming pool. But with bills it gets to be as high as 15,000/month. That's about half my take home pay, had to find something cheaper and with enough&nbsp;amenities&nbsp;to be comfortable. I was getting kind of worried, didn't want to go back to the teacher housing without at least a deposit on something sort of OK.<br /><br />We started driving around in Thai neighborhoods close to the school and working outwards. I was considering some less than appealing places. Then about 5:00 PM we found this little apartment building. There were no immediate vacancies, so I didn't even get a look at a room, but they had some pics. Price was OK, had A/C and it was well-kept, so I slapped down an deposit. Had to go back to the teacher housing for another week until April 1st though, that's when a unit became available. I crammed all my stuff under the stairwell of the condo for storage, bought Jeab a nice dinner and sent her on her really long drive home before it got too dark.<br /><br />The day I could move out of there couldn't come soon enough. I didn't want to impose on Jeab's generosity again, so I found a songteaw driver who would hire out and move me. He came on a Saturday morning with his entire family and they moved me in about one hour. I think it cost 500 baht, or 50 songteaw rides. That's about $15. I realized I didn't have any pics of a songteaw, so a little while ago I walked out to the main road and snapped a couple pics of one as it drove by.<br /><br />By the way, "songteaw" sounds a lot like "song tail" to me, especially if you say it with a southern accent. Sorta like tay-yo. That's the best I can describe this strange sound they use a lot. Wait, no, I remember Jerry Lewis using something like it, and that nutty professor on the Simpsons (which is a parody of Jerry Lewis), gets really close to this sound. There are some really surprising sounds in common usage in the Thai language I just can't get yet.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_TboZHyYt4/UZgvlhTcg7I/AAAAAAAAFvU/7xEF-0hsJgo/s1600/IMG_20130519_083706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_TboZHyYt4/UZgvlhTcg7I/AAAAAAAAFvU/7xEF-0hsJgo/s400/IMG_20130519_083706.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the yellow one I catch to get to work. Takes about 15 min. door to door.<br />&nbsp;They are different colors depending on the route, and come<br />about every 5 or 10 minutes. You flag them down and then push<br />the buzzer to get off. 10 baht. To get to the big modern<br />shopping mall, Central Plaza, takes about one hour. Have to transfer<br />to a red one. Little diesel trucks, noisy and rough riding.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLl5W_QF0k/UZhGQat4pNI/AAAAAAAAFv8/hJRUInRaeSk/s1600/Back+porch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLl5W_QF0k/UZhGQat4pNI/AAAAAAAAFv8/hJRUInRaeSk/s1600/Back+porch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqUCx32teL0/UZhGQF4oCyI/AAAAAAAAFv4/a7dTN6AUkMg/s1600/Back+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yqUCx32teL0/UZhGQF4oCyI/AAAAAAAAFv4/a7dTN6AUkMg/s200/Back+porch.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my laundry and<br />dishwashing facilities</td></tr></tbody></table>I have a refrigerator now, and all the things for a rudimentary kitchen here in the apartment. Dishes get washed in a tub out on the back porch, which has a spigot and a drain, as does laundry now. I learned how to do that by watching the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinay" target="_blank">pinays</a> in the teacher housing. It ends up being quicker and it's really not that difficult. The washing machines around here are different than back home, and invariably tangle up my dress shirts in very tight knots, so now I just wash everything by hand. Jeans and heavy stuff I walk around on like I'm crushing grapes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLl5W_QF0k/UZhGQat4pNI/AAAAAAAAFv8/hJRUInRaeSk/s1600/Back+porch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLl5W_QF0k/UZhGQat4pNI/AAAAAAAAFv8/hJRUInRaeSk/s200/Back+porch2.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About a week's worth<br />of laundry there</td></tr></tbody></table>I had to buy some furniture, not happy about that. It's supposed to be a "furnished" apartment. I needed a nightstand, or bedside table as my English friend calls it. He never heard of the term "nightstand" and assumed at first it was some sort of evening establishment. Also needed another shelving unit. There is no storage whatsoever in the bathroom. It's the typical Asian arrangement where the shower just goes onto the floor and most everything gets wet. I'm getting used to the cold showers, which aren't really cold. It depends on the temperature outside. 5:30 AM it's kinda cold. I guess the pipes run up the side of the building because in the evening the water is hot. I'm fairly well settled in now, with only a few irritations.</div><br /><br />Then there's the soi dogs. They can be dangerous. There's dozens of them living in the vacant field (which can be seen in the pics of my&nbsp;balcony)&nbsp;along the soi I have to walk, and they all will bark endlessly when I come near, but 5 or 6 have acted like they want a piece of me. I've learned pretty much <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lK7zBqr1mQ" target="_blank">how to deal with them</a> now: walk tall and show them you're top dog. Don't be afraid, don't run, and never turn your back on them. They aren't big, but they can be aggressive and they will try to bite you if you don't watch it. I've had some of these mangy bastards sneak up on me from behind and try to bite me.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSOWa_x7I0Y/UZb3UGDPzpI/AAAAAAAAFuY/z5BrNtTBpJA/s1600/IMG_20130419_064308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DSOWa_x7I0Y/UZb3UGDPzpI/AAAAAAAAFuY/z5BrNtTBpJA/s640/IMG_20130419_064308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's one of the problem ones. This son-of-a-bitch <br />waits for me&nbsp;every damn day.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Once I was attacked by 5 of them as I walked up the soi coming home from work. By the way, soi is Thai for street. I'd expect this sort of thing at night, but this was the hottest part of the afternoon, and here they came, encircling me snarling and snapping. I wanted to kill them. I ran at them yelling, waving my arms, trying to kick them, but they stayed just out of reach. Some Thais heard the ruckus and came out of their houses to help me shoo them away. That hasn't happened since. But now, if I don't have my umbrella with me, I pick up 2 or 3 rocks and am ready to throw them and often do if they start to stare me down or come trotting my way. They know about rocks, and will run if you even bend over to act like your gonna pick up a rock. Pantomiming throwing one will usually work too. Now that we're coming up on rainy season I carry an umbrella. When I walk their territory, I'm swinging it wide behind me as I walk, in case one of them tries to sneak up on me from behind.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-91Jr9XSg/UZb3U4AQ4WI/AAAAAAAAFuc/oXvTLLKY8Qw/s1600/IMG_20130419_064411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ-91Jr9XSg/UZb3U4AQ4WI/AAAAAAAAFuc/oXvTLLKY8Qw/s640/IMG_20130419_064411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here he is again growling at me, hair raised up<br />on his back and ready to&nbsp;come at me.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zAW8SREDsZo/UZb3X3o8f9I/AAAAAAAAFuk/oEVnQ1tU78o/s1600/IMG_20130419_064406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zAW8SREDsZo/UZb3X3o8f9I/AAAAAAAAFuk/oEVnQ1tU78o/s640/IMG_20130419_064406.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a crazy lady who lives in this shack. She feeds<br />about 10 of them. I suppose they feel they are protecting<br />her from&nbsp;the likes of scary men like me.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Wow, I have murder in my heart for some of these dogs. I was thinking I'd like to find some pepper spray, but have thought twice about that. I don't want to carry a pressurized container of that in my bag all the time. And you don't know which of these dogs are strays and which "belong" to a Thai. I suspect I may start a shit storm with some of the neighborhood people if I pepper sprayed someone's dog. Overspray might be a problem too, wouldn't want to&nbsp;inadvertently spray a person down-wind of it. So just got to stay on top of it with the umbrella I guess. How I would love to bean some of them on the nose with it.<br /><br />Did I mention there's really good Thai food in Thailand? And it's cheap too. Here's a table we got at some place (I don't think they have names) along Ang Sila beach. There's dozens. Jeab just picks the one that has the most people, and it's usually a winner.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaj1F7PwQXg/UZCd0bKEwgI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/znBVqkCYIAY/s1600/IMG_20130511_182532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaj1F7PwQXg/UZCd0bKEwgI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/znBVqkCYIAY/s640/IMG_20130511_182532.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's see that's an omelette with crab meat, seafood and vegetables,<br />and deep fried chicken bits in some sort of orange sauce I think.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ8Nij7uvXo/UZbgDq62wyI/AAAAAAAAFq8/8lgIZQSICeU/s1600/IMG_20130403_181355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZ8Nij7uvXo/UZbgDq62wyI/AAAAAAAAFq8/8lgIZQSICeU/s400/IMG_20130403_181355.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I often drink my beer with ice now. This is the usual arrangement, often&nbsp;with a<br />&nbsp;straw. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be drinking BEER with ICE in it.<br />But it's delicious when you're really hot and need hydrating.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx7b8JBsXmY/UZCd3G8mpGI/AAAAAAAAFmY/ep2V7vqg5r4/s1600/IMG_20130511_182156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx7b8JBsXmY/UZCd3G8mpGI/AAAAAAAAFmY/ep2V7vqg5r4/s640/IMG_20130511_182156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the sun go down while chowing down on some <br />great Thai food...hey,&nbsp;this is a reason to love this place!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I really don't even miss bread. When I first got here I kept cheese on hand, makes a nice omelette. But good cheese here is hard to find and it's rather expensive. Now I make my omelettes with fried minced pork, with some onions and peppers mixed in.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRg_AEOPnMQ/UZblcuxYp4I/AAAAAAAAFto/trqETAFQy5s/s1600/IMG_20130421_191608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRg_AEOPnMQ/UZblcuxYp4I/AAAAAAAAFto/trqETAFQy5s/s640/IMG_20130421_191608.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jib's place. I eat here a lot.</td></tr></tbody></table>I was walking slowly along the main road one day a month ago and a lady said hello. That's how I met Jib. Turns out she lived in New York for a year, and is an architecture graduate looking for work here. In the meantime she helps out at her parent's little restaurant. It's really a pleasure to be able to talk freely with someone who's pretty good with English, it keeps me coming back. Here sister's name is Jeab too, makes me think of a website named <a href="http://www.jibjab.com/" target="_blank">JibJab</a>. Today I had tam yung goong with basil minced pork and rice and a Coke. It was freakin' awesome, except I was sweating bullets cause it was hot as bloody hell around 1:00 PM and the tam yum was blazing spicy. It's not really called "Jib's Place", her mother and father own and run it, but I don't know what else to call it. It's just a little restaurant in what I suppose is the garage of one of these town homes, a typical arrangement. She's been a really good source of information on a lot of things.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FH0lETvVdEA/UZbg09Ru1RI/AAAAAAAAFrU/6hhxOicRWZY/s1600/IMG_20130407_132156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FH0lETvVdEA/UZbg09Ru1RI/AAAAAAAAFrU/6hhxOicRWZY/s640/IMG_20130407_132156.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Futile attempt to look younger.</td></tr></tbody></table>Right across the street from the string of beach restaurants, all of which I'm sure are excellent, is a Chinese Temple. We went in there one day and had a look around. There are signs everywhere saying no photography, but everyone was taking pictures so I did too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYo_1ck0910/UZbeg8nMT8I/AAAAAAAAFqY/Q1bAZNp2MWM/s1600/IMG_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYo_1ck0910/UZbeg8nMT8I/AAAAAAAAFqY/Q1bAZNp2MWM/s400/IMG_1253.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EhZlC_WBBQ/UZbfLS0msOI/AAAAAAAAFqo/_Rq3Jm1WfEI/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EhZlC_WBBQ/UZbfLS0msOI/AAAAAAAAFqo/_Rq3Jm1WfEI/s640/IMG_1269.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely assistant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RFFkTxZZWRA/UZbfakaKXiI/AAAAAAAAFqw/7TiCqIi5bTA/s1600/IMG_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RFFkTxZZWRA/UZbfakaKXiI/AAAAAAAAFqw/7TiCqIi5bTA/s640/IMG_1282.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the top floor of one of the buildings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kMf1uLHg6s/UZblcsOkFUI/AAAAAAAAFts/aWQaOX9JhUQ/s1600/IMG_20130427_121657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kMf1uLHg6s/UZblcsOkFUI/AAAAAAAAFts/aWQaOX9JhUQ/s640/IMG_20130427_121657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from that floor. This place looks like Vegas.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After the meal, and spending some time at the temple we drove up in the hills to a lookout point. The higher up we got, the more monkeys there were. Mean monkeys. You want to steer clear of these little bastards, I'm not even kidding.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiMvZ_Uu_xI/UZbkWmh73NI/AAAAAAAAFsw/QUajhvwT5Yw/s1600/IMG_20130427_181515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aiMvZ_Uu_xI/UZbkWmh73NI/AAAAAAAAFsw/QUajhvwT5Yw/s640/IMG_20130427_181515.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy looks harmless enough in this picture sitting<br />up top at the lookout point, but I swear to God<br />he was a little bastard. What a jerk.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kS5EVc0zYww/UZCZJ5i89dI/AAAAAAAAFkg/NNpySu5Kn_A/s1600/IMG_1286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kS5EVc0zYww/UZCZJ5i89dI/AAAAAAAAFkg/NNpySu5Kn_A/s640/IMG_1286.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stayed up there until it started to get dark and the monkeys<br />had a screaming fight on top of Jeab's car and started flinging poo.<br />Yeah, then we were out of there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJfS3KzSSco/UZCen7LEAfI/AAAAAAAAFmo/CqCUZPcIYYk/s1600/IMG_20130511_171726.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJfS3KzSSco/UZCen7LEAfI/AAAAAAAAFmo/CqCUZPcIYYk/s320/IMG_20130511_171726.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a building that looks like it has a ship on the top.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJX6JOIElxE/UZCenXKPSrI/AAAAAAAAFmg/F1qg7_Okvdg/s1600/IMG_20130511_174545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJX6JOIElxE/UZCenXKPSrI/AAAAAAAAFmg/F1qg7_Okvdg/s640/IMG_20130511_174545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I had to sneak in a bicycle pic. This pretty bike is called "The Roland".<br />I tried to do a <a href="http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-387941.html" target="_blank">little research online</a> to find out about them, but I'm getting<br />conflicting stories. This is a really nice looking bike to me, saw it in a<br />street market. I should have made an offer on it. Gonna go back<br />in a few weeks and see if I can find it again. Gonna have to change<br />out that brake handle, don't like those.</td></tr></tbody></table>Alright, that's enough for this post. I'm already started on the next one about some recent trips we took during this here time.</div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-48566445221188166932013-03-11T19:00:00.001-07:002013-05-12T23:20:53.268-07:00Learning the Language<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thais are really nice people. Almost all the time I feel they are just about the nicest people, always friendly and courteous. The problem comes when I try to communicate of course, as not a large percentage speak English. I'm not complaining, it's their country not mine, and also the reason I have work here. I've been here more than six months and I still can't carry on even the most basic of conversations. There really hasn't been much incentive for me to study, like the Mexican or Vietnamese who has been in the U.S. 30 years but is incapable of participating in a rudimentary exchange about anything. I never thought I'd be that guy, but I'm well on my way. Anybody who has studied till the wee hours for an exam has wished the top of the head could be unscrewed and knowledge poured directly in.&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought an online course called Linguaphone because it was "on sale". I kind of see why. Though it does a pretty good job of presenting the language,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it seems very old-fashioned. I know, not the most horrible thing to be. It would probably turn out to be good if</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;I would sit down and use it regularly, but it seems to be totally oriented to the tourist. Granted, I haven't gotten that far in it, so can't really complain much.&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've begun making a list of words I think a 4 year old probably knows in "karaoke English". Honest, that's what they call it. You can find Thai karaoke videos on youtube where they spell out Thai words at the bottom using the English alphabet rather than the Thai alphabet. So it's my basic vocabulary I started, with words I should know and which are not (generally) presented in the beginning of this course. Most of these were compiled by my fourth and fifth grade classes on the last day of summer school. I told them they could teach me Thai this time. It was fun watching them all come to consensus on the karaoke spelling. The Thai teacher even chimed in (she can't speak any better than most of the kids). I started using&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px; line-height: 12px;">٧</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span>٨<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;to indicate go up or go down at the end of the word.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">General dialogue</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Eng</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">faster</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">leaw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">please</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ko long</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yes</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">chai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">bring</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ow mah</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">slower</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">cha</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">harder</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yah</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">no</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mai chai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">take</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ow pai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">drive</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kub</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">softer</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">baow</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">on</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">bon</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">get</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">dai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">walk</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">den</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">drink</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">duh</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">off</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pit</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">work</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">tam ngan</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">run</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">wik</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">outside</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kang nog</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">eat</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ghin</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">short</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">san</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">up</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ghun</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">inside</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kang ni</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">also</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">la gor</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">long</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yaw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">down</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">luong</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">under</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kang tei</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">looks younger</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">wai loon</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">high</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sung</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٨</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">toilet</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hong nam</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sleep</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">non</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">inappropriate</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mai mor som</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">low</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">tam</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">beautiful</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">suwai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">soft sound</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">siang</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hard difficult</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yak</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">play</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">len</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">handsome</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">laaw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">soft feel</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">nim</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hard feel</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kang</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">stop</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yud</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">loud</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">smooth</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">liab</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">rough</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kru krah</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">go</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sticky</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">niau</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">good</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">dee</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">bad</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mai dee</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">learn</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">liund</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">fast/quick</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">lieaw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">scared</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kuwah</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sad</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sao</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">itch</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kun</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">brush</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pang</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">comb</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">wi</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٨</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">happy</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mee kwam sonk</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">stink</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pee akk</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 45.75pt;" valign="top" width="76"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">wash</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">lang</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 40.5pt;" valign="top" width="68"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sanook</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">fun</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">shampoo</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 63.0pt;" valign="top" width="105"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ya sap um</span></div></td><td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 22.5pt;" valign="top" width="38">really?</td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: .5in;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">reuu</div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Food</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hungry</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hiw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">full</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">tem</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">rice and duck</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kow na ped</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">crispy pork w/rice</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kow moo krob</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">BBQ pork w/rice</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kow moo daeng</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mixed veg. w/rice</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kow pad pak ruam mit</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pork omelet with rice</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kow kai jiaew moo sub</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">shrimp</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">goong</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">check please</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kit tang</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">rice noodles w/black sauce</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pad see ew</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">spicy sour soup</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">tam yum /goong/ moo/gai/etc.</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I bought for you</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">sue mar fan</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 81.75pt;" valign="top" width="136"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I’ll have that too/“also”</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="188"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">la gor</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 103.5pt;" valign="top" width="173"></td> <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="143"></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the Doctor</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp;</span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.15pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">English</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Thai</span></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 12.15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">doctor</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">mor</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">fever</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 11.4pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">nurse</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">payaban</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">swelling</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">buom</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 11.4pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">pain</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">puod</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">poison</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.4pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">yapit</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 12.15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">stomachache</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">puod tong</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">leg</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">ka</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٨</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 12.15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">headache</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">puod hua</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">arm</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kaan</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٨</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 12.15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">fever</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">head</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.15pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">hooah</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٨</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">diarrhea</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">tong sia</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">neck</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 12.75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kaw</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">٧</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr><tr style="height: 11.85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="height: 11.85pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">cost</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.85pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">nun/jai</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.85pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">thank you</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> <td style="height: 11.85pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">kob khun</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-4974971542886868672013-02-25T01:54:00.000-08:002013-02-25T01:55:16.400-08:00Barbie movies and Elvis<br /><div class="MsoNormal">I’d like to learn more about teaching English through music. It was a nice idea at first, but when I was actually in the classroom and dealing with 33 sixth-graders it’s the last place I want to have a musical instrument. I'd like to know of research or actual programs of English which incorporate music as a fundamental tool. If you know of anything, sing out. I once thought lute song might be a good vehicle, but it has to be for advanced studies, and especially for students with some experience with “early music”, Shakespeare and drama. Perhaps that would mean university age people unless I could manage to run across gifted students of high school age. I'm not going to try and sell it anymore. When I had some of these songs together long ago I applied for Young Audiences in Portland. The board who auditioned me really could not see how they might be of much use, and they&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;hire me.&nbsp;I certainly&nbsp;wouldn't&nbsp;try to play them for kids who aren't able to be silent, and that means most kids. I feel almost certain these sorts of songs would be wasted on most children. I’d use my ukulele with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The new position will be in Chon Buri City, approximately halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya in an area that is supposed to be growing fast. The school is being built now and seems more than halfway completed. The word I got is that I must report for duty there by March 18. They apparently feel the facility is complete enough. I’ve been told to prepare for chaos and confusion—the normal amount I’ve been warned to expect, but then a hefty dose on top of that because of everything being new. My plan is to use that to start slowly and build my skills as a music teacher/choir director as the student enrollment grows. I tell myself it’s impossible they would expect a fledgling music department to start off with a bang, but I expect to have to begin some sort of Christmas program quite early in order to pull it off, perhaps as early as September. I went with several administrators from this school in a school van a few weekends ago just to see the place, meet the director, and see what the city is like. I found Chon Buri City difficult to get around. There are some motorcycle taxis, but they are not common like Bangkok. I did not see a single metered taxi when I was there. Everybody seems to take the mini-songtaews or drive a scooter or car. There appears to be a shortage of housing close by the school, but I have been informed that they have purchased some “condos” very near.&nbsp;This will be shared housing.&nbsp;I can stay there if I need to, so I asked for a reservation, at least until I get my footing. I wonder what kind of roommate I’m gonna get.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was out of a job when I got hired at this school so I asked if they would let me work temporarily at another campus until it was time to move and start at the new place. Sure enough, they needed someone at their Suksa school, but I had to do a fast move. It’s all the w­ay across Bangkok, entirely too far away to commute from my other apartment and they required me to start immediately. I showed up for the first day at work with a suitcase, having asked the Head of Foreign Teachers (who OK’d my hire) if he liked where he lived, what the rent was, are there any vacancies. He set it up for me and I took it sight unseen. The best thing about the place is the apartments are completely new. My room had never been lived in. And they allow month-to-month rental, I can’t afford to lose anymore deposits. I lost the deposit at my last place and was fined a month’s rent because I signed a year’s lease but left without giving a month’s notice. I spent hardly a month there, but it couldn’t be helped. That’s behind me and I’m moved in now, but I was quite surprised and a little dismayed to find that my new home is situated more than 30 minutes by car from this school. I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I just didn’t have time to shop for a place. The guy is letting me commute with him, which might be pleasant if he didn’t have an eight year old daughter who watches Barbie movies most mornings. Have you seen these animations by Mattel? I know them well now, we usually watch them every morning because there’s a DVD player and screen in his dashboard. If it’s not Barbie movies, it’s Elvis. He loves Elvis.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have had sinusitis for over two weeks. It must have been developing since I had the two back-to-back colds from around Christmas. I had low level sniffles for around six weeks after that, but it eventually flared up on a Sunday and I started feeling ill. I asked around and found a clinic not far from me, so Monday night I headed that way. I caught a mini-songtaew to the crossroad north of me and tried to switch to a taxi. After only a few blocks it became clear he could speak no English, could not read the address I had written on a piece of paper, and was unable to read the Bangkok map I presented to him. My Thai is still totally inadequate. Only 2 baht had accrued on the meter in that time, so I paid him and got out. A motorcycle policeman was right there. I walked up to him and asked him where the clinic is. He offered to take me there and refused to accept money for the ride.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">First order of business was to get the health documents I need for my work permit: blood test results and a physician’s certificate that I’m in good health. The Thai government requires me to have a certificate of health as well as proof that I don’t have syphilis. They wanted to give me a chest X-ray but I said no, and they didn’t have a problem with it. I am puzzled though why they require a syphilis test but not HIV. I would think HIV is a far worse problem. Only after I received those documents did I ask to see both ear/nose/throat and orthopedic specialists for my ailments. Sinus guy said I need to be on antibiotics for <i>at least</i> three weeks. At that time he will assess whether or not I need my sinus’ scraped. I Googled that last night and was appalled, sure hope I don’t need it. Bone guy had a look at my knee which has been hurting for some time. I submitted to X-rays for this. He said I have a common “defect” that causes problems for older people. I guess I’m wearing out, or it's arthritis. The blood test, X-rays, consultation with both orthopedic and ear/nose/throat specialists and five prescription drugs cost me about 2,000 baht. That’s probably about as much as the deductible on my insurance for <i>just one</i>of those services back in the states. The business was run very smoothly, and I’m satisfied with the quality of care.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I need to get a new visa before I can get a work permit. It’s called a Type B Non-Immigrant Visa, and I'm leaving in about 10 minutes to catch the bus and head to Laos. There was a lot of paperwork which was prepared by the school. I have to provide proof of my citizenship and education. A bachelors degree is required by the school to get the new visa, and it apparently must be accompanied by transcripts. I provided both my masters and bachelors degrees, but I have transcripts only for my masters. It’s the latest and greatest, why wouldn’t they want that? As it turns out they don’t care about the masters at all for this purpose, and I don't have transcripts for the bachelors. I'm hoping everything will be alright without it.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today is Monday and it’s a holiday, Makha Bucha Day. The visa run service leaves at 7:00 PM, drives all night long and we arrive around 4:00 AM. I won’t go over it again, it’s the subject of a recent post. Wish me luck.&nbsp;</div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-44212615691078393302013-02-23T16:42:00.000-08:002013-02-25T01:56:20.542-08:00New job, new visaIt’s taken me a while to get to where I want to write further about myself and what’s happening in my life. Time seems to have accelerated now that a new year has come and a lot has happened since my last post, so&nbsp;I've&nbsp;been feeling I better write about things before I forget. It's a coincidence that my last post was about a visa run to Laos, and tomorrow I leave on the same trip again, with the same visa run service, this time to get another kind of visa you need in order to get a work permit. This holiday weekend (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magha_Puja" target="_blank">Magha Puja</a>) marks six months that&nbsp;I've&nbsp;been here. In that time I finished the TEFL course, took way too long to get a job, then got fired from my first job for “age related” reasons (the closest thing to an explanation I could elicit from the agency I was working for) after only six weeks.<br /><br />A month ago I found another position&nbsp;as music teacher&nbsp;with a large chain of private schools throughout Thailand. The result is that I've moved all the way across Bangkok twice. I haven’t had much fun yet here in Thailand, it’s been a fair amount of stress and worry. I keep looking around me and seeing many foreigners who are happy as larks, so have begun making a point, when I can engage in conversation, of asking for reasons to love this place. The responses that come to mind are largely ones of dissatisfaction with their home country. That’s not my reason, I think the US is great. Others stay here because they now have a family to support. I don't have much to do with fans of the sexy fun times available here and I won't go into their reasons. I wanted to live in and experience a foreign country before I get too old to do such a thing. From what I read Thailand seemed to be the easiest of places in Asia to get one's footing. I think I had a harder time than most getting a job, maybe now I can begin to relax and try to learn how to have more fun.<br /><br />My plan was to spend one year here and reassess. Now it will be to finish out the school year to March 2014 and be able to call myself a choir director. I do have high hopes for this new school. They give actual feedback by assessment, and opportunity to change instead of wheeling you out to the curb if you&nbsp;aren't&nbsp;making the grade for some unknown reason. The pay&nbsp;isn't&nbsp;good. The good things I see is the aforementioned feedback, they hire directly, have good holidays and don’t seem to discriminate against age or race. There are plenty of older guys here, a few have been here at this one school more than 10 years. There’s quite a bit of grumbling in the lunch room, but apparently they treat you well enough that most stay. It's also interesting to note that they employ more Filipinos than farangs as well as a Ghanaian and a Nigerian.<br /><br />Yes, music teacher. I really&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;think I’d get the job but I applied for it anyway, and what do you know--anything can happen in Thailand. Helping to start a choir is in the job description. I’ve never taught music before but music is what my degrees are in, albeit performance. I’ve been looking around online for instructional articles doing Google searches like “How to start a choir”. One of them advised simply announcing a date and time, and then just do it. I liked that one the best, though I am now lurking around in ChoralNet hoping to pick up some tips. After thinking about buying some book or other that will go into depth on the subject, I realize I’m not quite sure how I would get a good one delivered here. Amazon will ship here, but last time I checked into buying something and having it delivered to Thailand I learned shipping cost was way more than the cost of the item. That may be my only option if I can’t find a comprehensive instructional on the web somewhere. Well, sink-or-swim is another option but I’d rather not do that. I’m haven't found an Amazon.com alternative here in Thailand.<br /><br />Also have been thinking I should get my butt in gear, dust off the lutes, tune them up and begin practicing again. When I moved here there was the thought that I might need them at some point as the only way I can prove I’m a musician. I am assuming there’s a possibility I may need to perform something when I start the job, just to show I’m for real. I can show my degrees and transcripts, but performance is the sort of thing you have to put up or shut up. The guy who interviewed and hired me actually asked me to bring my instrument with me to the interview. He is not a musician, and cared only to listen to me tune, noodle a bit, describe the instrument/history/repertoire and then play a one-minute long prelude from a French lute composer. &nbsp;“OK that’s enough” he said, and I was hired. It strikes me from that experience and others (Saturday morning readings at a Chatujak coffee shop) that such music might not fly in Thailand. It’s much too sad and slow, too subtle, complicated, quiet and introspective. There's so much noise here. The average Thai cannot be in love with noise, but they are surely inured to it. It's pervasive and nobody seems to care. I’m sure there are some who would like this music if they could experience it. A society of classic guitarists seems the most obvious place to look, though I never know. I once experienced a most appreciative audience long ago at one of my first concerts, attended by some retired Episcopal organists in town for a convention. Would Buddhist monks or English professors appreciate lute music?<br /><br />Perhaps English lute song would be most interesting to people who are engaged in English language study but who&nbsp;aren't&nbsp;particularly interested in solo lute playing. For that reason it’s been lute song that&nbsp;I've&nbsp;been looking at brushing up, the more spirited the better but stopping short of the bawdy. I’ve tried singing naughty songs, but I just can’t pull it off in front of and audience of strangers. I tend to blush. I used to know 3 or 4 lute songs by John Dowland to play and sing as well as Morley’s great <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-FewWAdB3o" target="_blank">“It was a lover and his lass”</a>, which is about as close to rip-roaring as a lute song gets. I used to be able to nail it, and yes I simplify the most difficult tablature passages if I’m singing as well as playing. I’ll probably do <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7vLOjzG4no" target="_blank">“Flow my tears”</a>, one of Dowland’s most depressing but substantial songs, back to back with “It was a lover”, one of the most spirited lute songs ever. There are easier ones like “The lowest trees have tops” and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgr65P-rr_4" target="_blank">“Come again, sweet love doth now invite”</a>, both still really nice. It might be best to end on a high note so maybe start low and subdued with “Lowest trees”, followed by the delightful “Come again”. If I fit the dark “Flow” after that I could end with a bang with the cheerful “It was a lover”.&nbsp;I don't know, if these seem too hard I'll replace one with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GiPKbJWqNM" target="_blank">"Now, oh now I needs must part"</a>, the easiest lute song I know.&nbsp;But programming can wait, for now just need to get them back in shape.<br /><div><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-82062748221346386032012-11-26T18:53:00.001-08:002012-12-06T21:55:20.532-08:00Visa Run to Vientienne, Laos<br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">It's Tuesday morning here. I've been sitting in the lobby waiting for them to put the buffet out but it just wasn't happening. I tried to ask about it, but not sure I was getting across, so I just sat down and asked for an omelette &nbsp;One came and no charge yet, so I'm guessing I did it right.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">My visa expired Sunday and I had to go on a "visa run" to&nbsp;</span><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/2cfD0" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Vientienne, Laos</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. We left Sunday night around 8:30 PM and drove all night to arrive at the Laos border crossing at 4:00 AM. I was seated next to a big Japanese guy with very pointy knees who slept with them utterly splayed out. It didn't help my attempts at sleep. At one point took my belt off and tied it around my thighs to keep them together so I wouldn't have the guy poking me with his damn knees. I guess I couldn't really blame him, the Russian girl in front of him had her seat reclined almost into his lap. She must have been very comfortable. I've written about my distaste of these 12 passenger vans elsewhere in this log so I won't rant again. This is what the service uses, so be it. I managed to nap a little.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Thailand's archaic visa laws say you have to leave the country to apply for another visa. It takes at least a couple days. I chose a visa run service with the lowest price that handles everything and asked for a double entry tourist visa, just in case I need the time, and even with their help it took several hours more than two days. If you want to get a visa renewed you often have to leave the country just to get it stamped, then turn around and you can immediately enter again. It apparently does not matter where you do this, as long as it's out of the country. But it's way more hassle to get a new visa. You must leave and apply at another country's embassy, and it matters <i>a lot</i>&nbsp;where. Some countries "are not helpful at this time", as the visa run service guy put it. There is actually no guarantee they will issue the kind of visa you want/need. Don't ask me why they do it this way, welcome to Thailand. The price was 6,900 baht which gets me the double entry tourist and included everything. Also, the room they arrange is a shared room. That didn't set well when the time came to check in, so I paid 200 baht more for a private room. I just wanted to strip down and flop into bed for a nap, a roommate didn't sound good at the time. Looking back on it, a visa run service is worth every penny: they handle all paperwork, transportation, hotel accommodation and help to avoid the lines. Since this is their business and they do it regularly they (apparently) have some sort of working relationship with the authorities. Most people who had come on their own had to cue up for what seemed to be half a day, and we avoided all that. It was handled efficiently and I felt taken-care-of with few worries.&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I spent most of the morning yesterday standing in line at&nbsp;immigration because of an overstay fine for one day (12 hours actually) - it's a hassle, avoid it if you can. The embassy was not a long wait at all since the service handled it all very efficiently, and then we were off to check into the Sisavath hotel. I'm not sure where that is, did not get out or about at all, too tired. Last night I drank a few beers in the hotel lobby, got to try the much-lauded Beer Lao. It was good, more flavor than Leo beer, but not the best beer I've ever had. Frankly, not that much better than Leo. I haven't found an IPA yet, maybe they just don't like the extra hoppy styles in this part of the world. I know my beer loving friends in the Pacific Northwest U.S. would gag at the mere idea of putting ice in your beer, which more than half the population here does. I could have gone out and done some sightseeing of Vientiane but was just feeling blah due to my sleep cycle messed up. I've been hanging around the hotel to avoid spending money. $1 = 7,800 Laos Kip. The service should come get us some time today and distribute everyone's passports with the new visas stamped, not sure when. One guy I spoke with seems to think we won't get back to Bangkok until quite late, perhaps 10 or 11 PM. A lot of people do this process every day, it's a routine in Thailand.&nbsp;<i>[edit: got home at 11:00 PM]</i><br /><div></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I met an interesting young guy doing a run as well. He grew up in New York City, USA, but he's of&nbsp;Laotian-Thai descent and now lives in northern Thailand on the border with Laos with his new bride. Don't know why he's doing a run when he could get a marriage visa, but everyone has their reasons and strategies concerning these things. He speaks Thai and&nbsp;Laotian&nbsp;as well as the New York variety of English (the kind with attitude and bling). When I showed him my recent post of this blog about Korat and my interest in the people and rural life of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isan" target="_blank">Isan</a>, he invited me up to where he lives in <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/mXkkt" target="_blank">Nan</a>. It's not in Isan, but it's way up there, and very interesting to me</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. You think I'm the sort of guy who takes people up on offers like that? We'll see. He's been very helpful in translating things and explaining how I should be and act in Thailand to fit in. Always good to meet somebody like that, even if he's into hip-hop.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">No pics today, other than those map links, since I didn't get out and see anything. The air is clean here, and life seems slower. Some day soon I'd like to take an extended tour of Laos and Burma. Maybe on a bicycle.</div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-27266831745119426612012-10-24T17:53:00.000-07:002012-12-08T21:10:33.335-08:00Weekend in Korat - Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>These rooms are open to the air pretty much. I'm still amazed it was so comfortable to sleep without a/c or even a fan. I like it out here. Everybody was up way, way earlier than I was. I stumbled downstairs looking for my mug, and I made a cup of instant coffee. I brought some that tastes like espresso. David had to have his bacon, and I sampled some too. Mama and Papa and everybody else had a Thai dish featuring tree ants.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cfpLUb3y5Dg/ULF0NoIPLII/AAAAAAAAFCA/U719jZ0f4ms/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cfpLUb3y5Dg/ULF0NoIPLII/AAAAAAAAFCA/U719jZ0f4ms/s320/IMG_2454.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm.....bacon: the candy of meats</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fgZaK98B0EI/ULF0PnzFoBI/AAAAAAAAFCI/CHtbrd9Isu4/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fgZaK98B0EI/ULF0PnzFoBI/AAAAAAAAFCI/CHtbrd9Isu4/s400/IMG_2456.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody else ate Thai style. I don't know the name of&nbsp;this dish,&nbsp;but it's sour. <br />The sour taste is from tree ants.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dnlWacjFVs/ULF1Jj810KI/AAAAAAAAFCw/hc_vi9l09B0/s1600/IMG_2463a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6dnlWacjFVs/ULF1Jj810KI/AAAAAAAAFCw/hc_vi9l09B0/s640/IMG_2463a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was actually pretty tasty, and I must have eaten a rounded teaspoon of these ants.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I asked Tung where they get these ants and she told me they get them from trees. I don't know what kind of tree, but they definitely have a sour taste, like lemon or vinegar.<br /><br />After breakfast and some more sitting around, I felt very groggy. Never could quite wake up it seemed. Tung and David got their hats on and took me for a walk to see the family farm. This was very relaxing and felt good to get out in the beautiful countryside, walking along the rice paddies. They have not had much luck with rice this year because of lack of rain.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8C4OWLYOtw/ULF0Tit_IOI/AAAAAAAAFCY/BfL5nOb0UT0/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j8C4OWLYOtw/ULF0Tit_IOI/AAAAAAAAFCY/BfL5nOb0UT0/s320/IMG_2469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having left the house compound, we took a winding path<br />along fields towards the family plots, worked for generations.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jUpGCNQoW4/ULF0ZSseqeI/AAAAAAAAFCo/BXW9riLee_g/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4jUpGCNQoW4/ULF0ZSseqeI/AAAAAAAAFCo/BXW9riLee_g/s320/IMG_2477.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a view of how the paddies are laid out. We walked raised paths <br />with the sunken paddies on either side. The paths were about 36" high, <br />to stay out of the water when the paddies are flooded and the rice is planted.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4hR5JMI33Y/ULF0WJYyb-I/AAAAAAAAFCg/cb7jpvGsvFQ/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4hR5JMI33Y/ULF0WJYyb-I/AAAAAAAAFCg/cb7jpvGsvFQ/s640/IMG_2472.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little structure is a resting place to get out of the sun, eat<br />your lunch, take a nap, whatever. We stopped for a break.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ClPWI7gX1g/ULF4ru-BTxI/AAAAAAAAFDY/ibX0EplYfw0/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ClPWI7gX1g/ULF4ru-BTxI/AAAAAAAAFDY/ibX0EplYfw0/s400/IMG_2484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-leWIDd8gfs0/UMQcxPyy_9I/AAAAAAAAFbQ/tjWlM4nrzBg/s1600/IMG_2486crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-leWIDd8gfs0/UMQcxPyy_9I/AAAAAAAAFbQ/tjWlM4nrzBg/s320/IMG_2486crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5SMAAt---M/ULF4vPNqERI/AAAAAAAAFDg/pATece61HZs/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5SMAAt---M/ULF4vPNqERI/AAAAAAAAFDg/pATece61HZs/s320/IMG_2485.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how they used to harvest the rice. It was stuck up in<br />the rafters of the little house. Nowadays they use machinery.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xd1JfAqyfjc/ULGMDk2XaNI/AAAAAAAAFFY/ggK7H4Tp4O8/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xd1JfAqyfjc/ULGMDk2XaNI/AAAAAAAAFFY/ggK7H4Tp4O8/s320/IMG_2575.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama showing the front of the <br />tractor they use now to harvest rice</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1t0gwEnLjQ/ULGMF0iJ5fI/AAAAAAAAFFc/8RuaHztpcAc/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1t0gwEnLjQ/ULGMF0iJ5fI/AAAAAAAAFFc/8RuaHztpcAc/s320/IMG_2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the rear part. I bet it saves a lot of work.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLkq1EWWDxg/ULF401_w-uI/AAAAAAAAFDw/_bicxY3Z66A/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLkq1EWWDxg/ULF401_w-uI/AAAAAAAAFDw/_bicxY3Z66A/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saw these bottles laying around. David said he began to pick<br />them up, but was told to leave them lying there. Harvesters<br />use them to put tasty looking bugs and frogs in for<br />a snack later. I'm not kidding.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3DI1Hx-md4/ULF43UDpJxI/AAAAAAAAFD4/u1VLJwbpx-o/s1600/IMG_2488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3DI1Hx-md4/ULF43UDpJxI/AAAAAAAAFD4/u1VLJwbpx-o/s320/IMG_2488.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tar, (short for Guitar) accompanied us most of the way. Pretty good <br />for a little kid. David carried him home part of the way when we were <br />finished looking around the land.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilopyg3-GqY/ULF44uOnZBI/AAAAAAAAFEA/NuH4PIuDJ0U/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ilopyg3-GqY/ULF44uOnZBI/AAAAAAAAFEA/NuH4PIuDJ0U/s320/IMG_2491.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way home saw these on a tree. It's a tree fruit. Tung calls it ma furang (sp?) and the taste is very sour<br />&nbsp;and a little sweet. I've since had them as part of a salad<br />&nbsp;in food I've had in Bangkok, pretty good.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When we made it back to the house it was a pretty lazy scene. Papa was nowhere to be found, all the kids were listening to music or playing video games and the adults were hanging out where it was cool. Tung used her newly-acquired hair cutting skills to cut the neighbor lady's hair.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_tE-BB_bDCw/ULGKWxJzKlI/AAAAAAAAFFA/Jq_hhI-FSjE/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_tE-BB_bDCw/ULGKWxJzKlI/AAAAAAAAFFA/Jq_hhI-FSjE/s320/IMG_2523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She asked me if I wanted a haircut, but I decided to see how<br />this one turned out. I've since had a haircut from her<br />&nbsp;and it wasn't half bad.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-us1zmTlBHZ8/ULGKaXDvTNI/AAAAAAAAFFE/D_nj2Mygd08/s1600/IMG_2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-us1zmTlBHZ8/ULGKaXDvTNI/AAAAAAAAFFE/D_nj2Mygd08/s400/IMG_2525.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still feeling very listless and tired. Just sitting around with<br />my feet in the dirt.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Uvt8WknKqg/ULGKe7Ni7YI/AAAAAAAAFFM/QMj4fYfqKwE/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Uvt8WknKqg/ULGKe7Ni7YI/AAAAAAAAFFM/QMj4fYfqKwE/s640/IMG_2571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama dusting everything down</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WgoI1-IpXDI/ULGKg1PR_kI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/JbKokwTN59s/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WgoI1-IpXDI/ULGKg1PR_kI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/JbKokwTN59s/s400/IMG_2574.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking some nice looking little fish for lunch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSLuOlN4j3E/ULGKcxXU33I/AAAAAAAAFFI/FtCSckvQEwM/s1600/IMG_2528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gSLuOlN4j3E/ULGKcxXU33I/AAAAAAAAFFI/FtCSckvQEwM/s320/IMG_2528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Miss Tung showed me this papaya tree in the back yard<br />and said she would make me a fresh papaya salad.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjwgMqTsjSU/ULGM9DKcwqI/AAAAAAAAFFg/C7_lYi4917o/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjwgMqTsjSU/ULGM9DKcwqI/AAAAAAAAFFg/C7_lYi4917o/s320/IMG_2593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She picked it off the tree and peeled it with a knife</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWel5DQqAdI/ULGM-ufslvI/AAAAAAAAFFk/Wvk59ifzplw/s1600/IMG_2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWel5DQqAdI/ULGM-ufslvI/AAAAAAAAFFk/Wvk59ifzplw/s320/IMG_2594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then there's a special tool, sort of like a cheese slicer,<br />that carves up the papaya into these things.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L33ehDLyL5I/ULGNAsD_HWI/AAAAAAAAFFo/a5Md0cC7HJA/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L33ehDLyL5I/ULGNAsD_HWI/AAAAAAAAFFo/a5Md0cC7HJA/s320/IMG_2595.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple weeks later I bought one in a market for 10 baht.<br />I'm never gonna use it, you need to many<br />ingredients to make this dish correctly.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJNQT8BmfEs/ULGNCNwKA_I/AAAAAAAAFFs/tJPR_0rKUeg/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJNQT8BmfEs/ULGNCNwKA_I/AAAAAAAAFFs/tJPR_0rKUeg/s320/IMG_2596.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You shred off as much off as you can until the seeds start<br />to show, then you throw it out for the chickens to peck at.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7YMOLDNK3gg/ULGNDolyjyI/AAAAAAAAFFw/mpIsvud2ZVE/s1600/IMG_2599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7YMOLDNK3gg/ULGNDolyjyI/AAAAAAAAFFw/mpIsvud2ZVE/s320/IMG_2599.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One processed papaya, set aside.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_GSztFcYuI/ULGNFQ8DcLI/AAAAAAAAFF0/SbfhHS0Xjn4/s1600/IMG_2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_GSztFcYuI/ULGNFQ8DcLI/AAAAAAAAFF0/SbfhHS0Xjn4/s320/IMG_2600.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama has a really big ceramic mortar and a heavy wooden<br />pestle. Toss a little of the papaya in there along with<br />peppers and garlic. Those peppers are hotter than jalapenos,<br />but not near as hot as habaneros.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GdNXoKC0L8Q/ULGNHBPG0TI/AAAAAAAAFF4/chaRtHy6OQ4/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GdNXoKC0L8Q/ULGNHBPG0TI/AAAAAAAAFF4/chaRtHy6OQ4/s320/IMG_2602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddle it a bit. She didn't chop anything as I remember.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sqdyC_QuDpU/ULGNJOOjEBI/AAAAAAAAFF8/AP9ZSZ6rCQg/s1600/IMG_2603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sqdyC_QuDpU/ULGNJOOjEBI/AAAAAAAAFF8/AP9ZSZ6rCQg/s320/IMG_2603.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You hear this "pok, pok, pok" sound as she works. There's a<br />popular Thai restaurant back in Portland called PokPok.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6N38W3f98MI/ULGNK2l0fDI/AAAAAAAAFGA/Th7zIFeS9V4/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6N38W3f98MI/ULGNK2l0fDI/AAAAAAAAFGA/Th7zIFeS9V4/s320/IMG_2604.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is sugar, looks like raw sugar.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7ucNAaJTAk/ULGNOSuvDBI/AAAAAAAAFGI/vKtXrTrCRTw/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7ucNAaJTAk/ULGNOSuvDBI/AAAAAAAAFGI/vKtXrTrCRTw/s320/IMG_2608.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add some cherry tomatoes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neImQxoPfe4/ULGNP7hJtGI/AAAAAAAAFGM/ZXNo_pk6Kcw/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-neImQxoPfe4/ULGNP7hJtGI/AAAAAAAAFGM/ZXNo_pk6Kcw/s320/IMG_2610.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is lemon juice...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgGmexrWISQ/ULGNVF8I01I/AAAAAAAAFGc/HLC6yHdK3tw/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgGmexrWISQ/ULGNVF8I01I/AAAAAAAAFGc/HLC6yHdK3tw/s320/IMG_2613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaEBnd4OqvY/ULGNRjvh2nI/AAAAAAAAFGU/UHwlfBSijpo/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaEBnd4OqvY/ULGNRjvh2nI/AAAAAAAAFGU/UHwlfBSijpo/s320/IMG_2611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nam pla, or fish sauce. Man I love this stuff. I don't even<br />bother cooking chicken anymore unless I've marinated<br />it in this stuff</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1uvd6B5v3M/ULGNThUdK6I/AAAAAAAAFGY/svB4G7pSRSs/s1600/IMG_2612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1uvd6B5v3M/ULGNThUdK6I/AAAAAAAAFGY/svB4G7pSRSs/s320/IMG_2612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyg-7e_57mY/ULGNXFx8jFI/AAAAAAAAFGg/rSbm5BxOv-w/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyg-7e_57mY/ULGNXFx8jFI/AAAAAAAAFGg/rSbm5BxOv-w/s320/IMG_2614.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nam pla above wasn't fishy enough I guess,<br />so she adds a few tablespoons of this extra fishy sauce called pa ra.<br />Mama buys it and keeps it in a jug, unrefrigerated for months, and it's <i>gruesome</i>.<br />I don't even like to think that I ate this stuff. But I did.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdJvEbhs-SQ/ULGNZE2qtAI/AAAAAAAAFGk/-uvcmr7lICc/s1600/IMG_2616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JdJvEbhs-SQ/ULGNZE2qtAI/AAAAAAAAFGk/-uvcmr7lICc/s320/IMG_2616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For that extra umami-boost</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4WdSfz84iY/ULGNbTaE04I/AAAAAAAAFGo/bAMURUVGn_c/s1600/IMG_2617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V4WdSfz84iY/ULGNbTaE04I/AAAAAAAAFGo/bAMURUVGn_c/s320/IMG_2617.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep muddling it, moving it around with the spoon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vMV_kiD7AyQ/ULGNd-CF2SI/AAAAAAAAFGs/8DANFe0BeZw/s1600/IMG_2620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vMV_kiD7AyQ/ULGNd-CF2SI/AAAAAAAAFGs/8DANFe0BeZw/s320/IMG_2620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the way we mash it up....</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-00UXszK1MzM/ULGNf_vOqJI/AAAAAAAAFGw/5mHgOEqqtEs/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-00UXszK1MzM/ULGNf_vOqJI/AAAAAAAAFGw/5mHgOEqqtEs/s320/IMG_2622.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....mash it up, mash it up...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elXKbxHloDk/ULGNhsR7cLI/AAAAAAAAFG0/GmvRqx9__Pw/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elXKbxHloDk/ULGNhsR7cLI/AAAAAAAAFG0/GmvRqx9__Pw/s320/IMG_2631.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's about right. Throw in the shredded papaya and toss.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwuXDLHlsuE/ULGNjWWOEUI/AAAAAAAAFG4/hhccOuRSOdQ/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwuXDLHlsuE/ULGNjWWOEUI/AAAAAAAAFG4/hhccOuRSOdQ/s320/IMG_2635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serve on a platter. Man, this is one spicy dish.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBDW2hbiGDo/ULGNlbm4PZI/AAAAAAAAFG8/zrA0G2iCHYc/s1600/IMG_2640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NBDW2hbiGDo/ULGNlbm4PZI/AAAAAAAAFG8/zrA0G2iCHYc/s640/IMG_2640.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We at it with these Thai vegetables called gem nan. Tung said she only sees them in Korat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11_S5wlBVnU/ULGNm07XBlI/AAAAAAAAFHA/BMPiR-XuK-U/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-11_S5wlBVnU/ULGNm07XBlI/AAAAAAAAFHA/BMPiR-XuK-U/s320/IMG_2641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody loves this stuff, even the little kids eat it<br />like candy. Did I mention it's spicy? Really spicy.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>I got tired of sitting around with my feet in the dirt, as relaxing as it was. So I took my camera and walked off down the road. A long row of reeds lying on the road drying needed investigating.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Cn7vfnCi44/ULGS_jLYWxI/AAAAAAAAFHM/p8bdvZFFKOs/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Cn7vfnCi44/ULGS_jLYWxI/AAAAAAAAFHM/p8bdvZFFKOs/s320/IMG_2581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After lunch I took a walk down the road and saw these reeds<br />laid out on the side of the road.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wFnvB1EAxU/ULGTRqOoTKI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/L0Dh9iqrvBg/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wFnvB1EAxU/ULGTRqOoTKI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/L0Dh9iqrvBg/s320/IMG_2583.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turned around and saw some sort of operation going <br />on behind this screen.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjBM3Ai691A/ULGTqbujR4I/AAAAAAAAFHU/qFiBRc0FnBY/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjBM3Ai691A/ULGTqbujR4I/AAAAAAAAFHU/qFiBRc0FnBY/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were making mats!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>I'd stumbled across some mat makers, three ladies working away in the middle of the day. They seemed to think I was very interesting. I asked them to take their picture, and they were a little embarrassed but they didn't say no.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6OcU7qGvxoQ/ULGT-5c9B2I/AAAAAAAAFHY/LIa4vZbC_eM/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6OcU7qGvxoQ/ULGT-5c9B2I/AAAAAAAAFHY/LIa4vZbC_eM/s320/IMG_2577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weaver is named Ruan.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTuIup4z7Vc/ULGUA2toXAI/AAAAAAAAFHc/AOYVpybUbio/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTuIup4z7Vc/ULGUA2toXAI/AAAAAAAAFHc/AOYVpybUbio/s400/IMG_2578.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXdxMlCPaOw/ULGUC-2_DZI/AAAAAAAAFHg/B501RTtTTPY/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vXdxMlCPaOw/ULGUC-2_DZI/AAAAAAAAFHg/B501RTtTTPY/s640/IMG_2579.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun had a razor and was stripping them somehow,&nbsp;getting ready for the weaver to use.<br />I don't know how they were dyed.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQOS_L3WKCk/ULGUFuDS4VI/AAAAAAAAFHk/HIkc8ws2Ces/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RQOS_L3WKCk/ULGUFuDS4VI/AAAAAAAAFHk/HIkc8ws2Ces/s400/IMG_2580.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really should have bought one or two. But by this time<br />I'd started to consider my finances a little more.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IENwig1mzD4/ULGU0fwv10I/AAAAAAAAFHw/OfclHRQfm54/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IENwig1mzD4/ULGU0fwv10I/AAAAAAAAFHw/OfclHRQfm54/s320/IMG_2584.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking down the road a bit further I found a group of<br />men playing, of all things, bocce ball.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQuamC4obsA/ULGU2fvRDnI/AAAAAAAAFH0/J4dZ966702Q/s1600/IMG_2585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQuamC4obsA/ULGU2fvRDnI/AAAAAAAAFH0/J4dZ966702Q/s400/IMG_2585.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had the court marked out with string, and it was played on a<br />plain old uneven dirt surface.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQVwh5fYOPA/ULGU4gtHe1I/AAAAAAAAFH4/P5ny88FP6yE/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQVwh5fYOPA/ULGU4gtHe1I/AAAAAAAAFH4/P5ny88FP6yE/s320/IMG_2586.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were really good. Two in particular were the best<br />players I've ever seen and the others seemed to be betting.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyi3QNX_Q3I/ULGU7CDLXsI/AAAAAAAAFH8/MmDrbqh8NT0/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vyi3QNX_Q3I/ULGU7CDLXsI/AAAAAAAAFH8/MmDrbqh8NT0/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was just walking along and they beckoned me over,<br />so I sat down for about half hour and watched. No English.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YT5oMECH0AA/ULGU9xRoxtI/AAAAAAAAFIA/Yp5hUJWVA2k/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YT5oMECH0AA/ULGU9xRoxtI/AAAAAAAAFIA/Yp5hUJWVA2k/s320/IMG_2589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Continuing along, I see a community rice processing facility,<br />the village water supply to the right there in a big pond,<br />and the water tower in the back to the left.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fo7nW4GeZQg/ULGVAXq3tRI/AAAAAAAAFIE/-skwJpAAJf0/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fo7nW4GeZQg/ULGVAXq3tRI/AAAAAAAAFIE/-skwJpAAJf0/s400/IMG_2592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back home again and everybody's chilling,<br />wondering where I had wandered off to.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When I returned it was more of the same, everybody hanging out. I think I had time for a quick beer, then Mama told us to follow her. No idea what she was up to. We followed her up the road the way I came back, through a side yard and into the backyard of a house where we found a crowd of cricket wranglers. There must have been 10,000 crickets, and they were about to be harvested. Mama said to take some pics, but I didn't know I'd need my camera. Tung's daughter ran off to the house and came back with Tung's camera, so I have a few pics of this...cricket roundup. After I tried to always keep my camera in my pocket.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tXVZwwSe_E/ULtbX_slsLI/AAAAAAAAFXI/NDABlFqbZak/s1600/IMG_3056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tXVZwwSe_E/ULtbX_slsLI/AAAAAAAAFXI/NDABlFqbZak/s400/IMG_3056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it was with everything intact. The egg cartons stacked up, cricket feed set out,<br />everything pretty well taken care of I guess, in the sort way one does cricket<br />husbandry. Enclosures were built of concrete blocks.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APm8iymVihI/ULtbZMQhl6I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/yr2XANRnrYA/s1600/IMG_3058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-APm8iymVihI/ULtbZMQhl6I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/yr2XANRnrYA/s640/IMG_3058.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked those ponds in the middle on the floor, with bamboo planks so the crickets could get to the plastic tubs<br />which served as watering holes. They were filled with smooth stones. It seemed like a pretty nice place for a cricket<br />to be live, like cricket condos. I wonder what cricket feed is made of.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OHdtcU-g-E/ULtbbFnJC4I/AAAAAAAAFXY/1vLqU5tl5LY/s1600/IMG_3063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4OHdtcU-g-E/ULtbbFnJC4I/AAAAAAAAFXY/1vLqU5tl5LY/s400/IMG_3063.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First step was to remove all the egg cartons condos and shake the crickets out so you could<br />get at them. Then several people just scooped them up and put them into plastic tubs,<br />walking on bamboo poles so as to not squish too much of the product.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v1_R9prTfk/ULtWSvimrpI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/7M51-3ol978/s1600/IMG_3067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5v1_R9prTfk/ULtWSvimrpI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/7M51-3ol978/s320/IMG_3067.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look into one of the collection tubs.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMk0ZqUkKlo/ULtWabYryZI/AAAAAAAAFVY/4k9nKmKfgsA/s1600/IMG_3068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMk0ZqUkKlo/ULtWabYryZI/AAAAAAAAFVY/4k9nKmKfgsA/s400/IMG_3068.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was after hundreds of egg cartons were removed.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iby68PJRtu4/ULtWb-uiIzI/AAAAAAAAFVg/msm9aXEilPs/s1600/IMG_3069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iby68PJRtu4/ULtWb-uiIzI/AAAAAAAAFVg/msm9aXEilPs/s320/IMG_3069.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing the slick tiles around the edges which kept them from climbing up.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCoJqfXvbmg/ULtWdrZZyHI/AAAAAAAAFVo/LmVOjUQm9o8/s1600/IMG_3070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PCoJqfXvbmg/ULtWdrZZyHI/AAAAAAAAFVo/LmVOjUQm9o8/s320/IMG_3070.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire affair was screened in with mosquito netting, not sure what for.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXDUPOAJfqQ/ULtWeyxmPOI/AAAAAAAAFVw/pXpAi9fTLbY/s1600/IMG_3071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXDUPOAJfqQ/ULtWeyxmPOI/AAAAAAAAFVw/pXpAi9fTLbY/s400/IMG_3071.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were divided up and weighed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4vKAtvQxtss/ULtWhFnTevI/AAAAAAAAFWA/LWl0rhbt8fI/s1600/IMG_3085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4vKAtvQxtss/ULtWhFnTevI/AAAAAAAAFWA/LWl0rhbt8fI/s400/IMG_3085.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then water was poured on them, not sure why...maybe drowning them a bit makes<br />them more manageable. Then it's into plastic bags they go, ready to be cooked up.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was fascinating, and I'm really impressed Mama timed it so we could be there for it. The whole process seemed to take less than two hours and then there were no more crickets, just people brishing off and stacking up paper egg cartons for use with the next batch of cricket condos.<br /><br />We got a bag and walked back to the house, heated up a wok and in they went.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2s-3Isn63c/ULGXM_eeCNI/AAAAAAAAFIM/U74LuD0yl0Q/s1600/IMG_2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2s-3Isn63c/ULGXM_eeCNI/AAAAAAAAFIM/U74LuD0yl0Q/s400/IMG_2644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put a little fish sauce on them and keep 'em moving...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMbok01cq14/ULGXO_9DREI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/35pb4_SaCaU/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMbok01cq14/ULGXO_9DREI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/35pb4_SaCaU/s320/IMG_2647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...don't want to let them burn...nothing worse than <br />burned crickets.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4dN4kTQ2dg/ULGXRJsbR9I/AAAAAAAAFIU/qmzKEER6TVc/s1600/IMG_2656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4dN4kTQ2dg/ULGXRJsbR9I/AAAAAAAAFIU/qmzKEER6TVc/s320/IMG_2656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama takes over after a little while.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxZh5NndpHw/ULGXT0ssrAI/AAAAAAAAFIc/NmeSuOrbENo/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxZh5NndpHw/ULGXT0ssrAI/AAAAAAAAFIc/NmeSuOrbENo/s400/IMG_2660.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They really like these things. I ate several when they &nbsp;were done and, while tasty,<br />I just couldn't take the idea of chewing up a bug. The last one she gave me I acted<br />like I was going to eat it, then when she looked away I threw it in the bushes. I discovered Papa<br />was watching and caught me when he laughed at my disposal.&nbsp;Man, that guy misses nothing.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhRpuySMH5o/ULGZAnPU40I/AAAAAAAAFIg/nK43PCgXi0w/s1600/IMG_2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhRpuySMH5o/ULGZAnPU40I/AAAAAAAAFIg/nK43PCgXi0w/s320/IMG_2648.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along with the crickets, we had a pork stew with boiled eggs in it. There<br />was a lot of sugar in this stew, and the hard-boiled eggs were boiled<br />for a long time after they were thrown in there. I think I'd leave out the<br />sugar and make it spicy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeKDC5t9DS8/ULGZCiO03YI/AAAAAAAAFIk/2UJ8iHjzlYA/s1600/IMG_2649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zeKDC5t9DS8/ULGZCiO03YI/AAAAAAAAFIk/2UJ8iHjzlYA/s320/IMG_2649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eaten with rice and crickets.</td></tr></tbody></table>After lunch I don't remember what we did. I wasn't feeling quite so listless, probably had a beer or two. It's easy to just relax around there, trying to talk with Mama. She and I formed a nice connection when we were there, not sure how, just sign language and facial expressions. It was really something.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8Zon5m1NDs/ULteYCQLUlI/AAAAAAAAFYA/s6pDhGuI0g8/s1600/IMG_3103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8Zon5m1NDs/ULteYCQLUlI/AAAAAAAAFYA/s6pDhGuI0g8/s640/IMG_3103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />We stopped by a neighbor's house who had a little business making furniture out of palm stalks. I didn't think that was a use for those things. Not really good to put a cup on, but maybe could put some glass on the top to create a better surface.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y44FreYiiII/ULtfVmdZexI/AAAAAAAAFYI/WuBM6nJD5qE/s1600/IMG_3087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y44FreYiiII/ULtfVmdZexI/AAAAAAAAFYI/WuBM6nJD5qE/s400/IMG_3087.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwz-VHpRvM8/ULtfXf1QrmI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/8LTXhpOOqgY/s1600/IMG_3088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwz-VHpRvM8/ULtfXf1QrmI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/8LTXhpOOqgY/s640/IMG_3088.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think David's gonna buy one of these table sets. There were tables, chairs and recliners, all out of the same material.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eI8i-GtUsKI/ULtfZSMvdNI/AAAAAAAAFYY/7c4tMvdVyw4/s1600/IMG_3093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eI8i-GtUsKI/ULtfZSMvdNI/AAAAAAAAFYY/7c4tMvdVyw4/s400/IMG_3093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking it all in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NTrlbdCoigc/ULtfcjw9b-I/AAAAAAAAFYg/MOxYLhbYW9M/s1600/IMG_3095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NTrlbdCoigc/ULtfcjw9b-I/AAAAAAAAFYg/MOxYLhbYW9M/s320/IMG_3095.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got his Aussie hat on there. Made me wish I had my cowboy hat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2X5aIpZojc/ULtfoguXibI/AAAAAAAAFYo/LTHBXIJtJ0E/s1600/IMG_3102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2X5aIpZojc/ULtfoguXibI/AAAAAAAAFYo/LTHBXIJtJ0E/s320/IMG_3102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lounges were pretty comfortable.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--8faEcDda3E/ULtfyxpnabI/AAAAAAAAFYw/wK6tgXEYDsk/s1600/IMG_3109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--8faEcDda3E/ULtfyxpnabI/AAAAAAAAFYw/wK6tgXEYDsk/s320/IMG_3109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />When the cricket show was over with, evening was rolling around and the sun was going down, we made our way back down the road towards the house. Some teenage boys who had been making themselves scarce all day came walking out to show us all the paper and wire contraption they had been working on.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiXi4JeAyR8/ULGkOFlgsgI/AAAAAAAAFQE/EdJU1FxxGt0/s1600/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiXi4JeAyR8/ULGkOFlgsgI/AAAAAAAAFQE/EdJU1FxxGt0/s320/IMG_2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were there for a 3 day weekend for some reason or other. Oh yeah<br />the Buddhist holiday which made the 3 day weekend possible.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-b8yEwDPY4/ULGkRMbwWmI/AAAAAAAAFQM/uhQTTlkna3U/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-b8yEwDPY4/ULGkRMbwWmI/AAAAAAAAFQM/uhQTTlkna3U/s320/IMG_2662.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is it?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvdvyIPaX0U/ULGkUeAsfsI/AAAAAAAAFQU/QETCcYh44vA/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvdvyIPaX0U/ULGkUeAsfsI/AAAAAAAAFQU/QETCcYh44vA/s320/IMG_2663.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dousing a wadded up ball in what looks like flammable liquid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dZiCh3dyKs/ULGkXqqJbEI/AAAAAAAAFQc/z-Pgb3fiQ4E/s1600/IMG_2665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_dZiCh3dyKs/ULGkXqqJbEI/AAAAAAAAFQc/z-Pgb3fiQ4E/s320/IMG_2665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Held in there with wire...this is a hot air balloon!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnhPUseSNro/ULGkayaKCJI/AAAAAAAAFQk/KfmH3YAhFL0/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnhPUseSNro/ULGkayaKCJI/AAAAAAAAFQk/KfmH3YAhFL0/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89cR-gRxpDc/ULGkeUpoBoI/AAAAAAAAFQs/Eljmj8NfyBw/s1600/IMG_2667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89cR-gRxpDc/ULGkeUpoBoI/AAAAAAAAFQs/Eljmj8NfyBw/s400/IMG_2667.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get the thing over the fire somehow. It's pretty big.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTBOJTgh9RA/ULGkgsK71GI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/AzAzPEIj7CU/s1600/IMG_2668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTBOJTgh9RA/ULGkgsK71GI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/AzAzPEIj7CU/s640/IMG_2668.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There we go, it's starting to fill now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gjl2WEU-rk/ULGkj5I_f4I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/YQ_nEGjNGCo/s1600/IMG_2672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gjl2WEU-rk/ULGkj5I_f4I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/YQ_nEGjNGCo/s640/IMG_2672.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now we're talkin'.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jcEDylJpg/ULGknEAfPMI/AAAAAAAAFRE/hqiEcAqOOTc/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9jcEDylJpg/ULGknEAfPMI/AAAAAAAAFRE/hqiEcAqOOTc/s640/IMG_2675.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoopsie daisy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISMqXh5LfVI/ULGkqvT4_UI/AAAAAAAAFRM/lb_yTY57tmE/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISMqXh5LfVI/ULGkqvT4_UI/AAAAAAAAFRM/lb_yTY57tmE/s640/IMG_2676.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3pI2uHQLbs/ULGkuZym31I/AAAAAAAAFRU/KGHdI60Su7w/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3pI2uHQLbs/ULGkuZym31I/AAAAAAAAFRU/KGHdI60Su7w/s640/IMG_2678.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There we go...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkMmd4EI3zU/ULGkx7RkfZI/AAAAAAAAFRg/qFuhOETMecQ/s1600/IMG_2680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkMmd4EI3zU/ULGkx7RkfZI/AAAAAAAAFRg/qFuhOETMecQ/s640/IMG_2680.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up, up and away!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3FYueCCGj4/ULGk0aJC70I/AAAAAAAAFRo/gpPp3MSXSI4/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--3FYueCCGj4/ULGk0aJC70I/AAAAAAAAFRo/gpPp3MSXSI4/s640/IMG_2681.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It really took off.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNtnIyPTiiY/ULGk2xznJNI/AAAAAAAAFRw/lHF-s5MYKV8/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNtnIyPTiiY/ULGk2xznJNI/AAAAAAAAFRw/lHF-s5MYKV8/s320/IMG_2682.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remarkably stable, and that fire will last.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-93NkVhyNC6g/ULGk5g68kNI/AAAAAAAAFR4/V5vBqfo3Jbk/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-93NkVhyNC6g/ULGk5g68kNI/AAAAAAAAFR4/V5vBqfo3Jbk/s640/IMG_2683.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eObGfyl0Ncs/ULGk7rxUQYI/AAAAAAAAFSA/9oh7xWVSpdw/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eObGfyl0Ncs/ULGk7rxUQYI/AAAAAAAAFSA/9oh7xWVSpdw/s400/IMG_2684.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVD3-3_wPc/ULGk-O-lMoI/AAAAAAAAFSI/2M1YI_SgCMI/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVD3-3_wPc/ULGk-O-lMoI/AAAAAAAAFSI/2M1YI_SgCMI/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_2cZITFYx8/ULGlAePyQjI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/jxfnh7ymd68/s1600/IMG_2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_2cZITFYx8/ULGlAePyQjI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/jxfnh7ymd68/s640/IMG_2687.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's halfway to Cambodia by now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Well, that was rather exciting! Everybody stood around and had a pop or a beer talking about it. Time to start snapping some pics. It's getting on to evening.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhIbzf0aB2o/ULGntNVVhgI/AAAAAAAAFS8/B106zIdKZrE/s1600/IMG_2693.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rhIbzf0aB2o/ULGntNVVhgI/AAAAAAAAFS8/B106zIdKZrE/s400/IMG_2693.JPG" width="363" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0cd0tdUW-4/ULGnwqE53uI/AAAAAAAAFTE/K_qax0AozJI/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0cd0tdUW-4/ULGnwqE53uI/AAAAAAAAFTE/K_qax0AozJI/s400/IMG_2704.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NnhaYhVv4M/ULGnzjD93gI/AAAAAAAAFTM/gzD5SKQCwz8/s1600/IMG_2706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NnhaYhVv4M/ULGnzjD93gI/AAAAAAAAFTM/gzD5SKQCwz8/s400/IMG_2706.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really had a good time.</td></tr></tbody></table>I was going to write some about Monday, but I really don't remember what we did. I know David has some other pics on his phone, I'll see if I can get those, maybe jog my memory. I think just spent the morning getting ready to go, packing it up in the pickup truck we came in, and headed off on the hour long ride to the bus.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuDz37Wb1-Y/ULGpQlqyO7I/AAAAAAAAFTY/xVGi8mT7-T0/s1600/Map+to+Mama+and+Papas+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kuDz37Wb1-Y/ULGpQlqyO7I/AAAAAAAAFTY/xVGi8mT7-T0/s640/Map+to+Mama+and+Papas+house.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the approximate location of their home. We sat down with Tung after we got back to Bangkok, but we really couldn't determine <i>exactly</i>&nbsp;where the place was. Best we could figure is that it is close to the village&nbsp;Nong Manao (doesn't show on this map). You can see Nakhon Ratchasima there, that is the closest bus station, about 4 hours from Bangkok. The blue line represents the hour or so truck ride northwards to the homestead, way out in the middle of nowhere.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />They told me I'm welcome back anytime, but I'm not quite sure how I'd find it again unless I went with Tung. It was a fine experience, great way to relax and get exposure to rural Thai life. I think I could get used to it. I don't think I need the excitement of a big city, but that's what I got at the moment. Maybe I'll look into some other places some day, where the air is clean and temperature is not so hot, where people smile and really mean it and it's possible to live on quite a bit less than Bangkok. For now, it's nose to the grindstone and try to get some experience under my belt.<br /><br />If you're interested in a nice Thailand home stay vacation maybe Tung can fix you up somehow. Not sure I could label this experience "bed and breakfast" really, but it's definitely a few steps above camping. Might have to have some creative sleeping arrangements. Contact Tung <i>&lt;ponthai@live.co.uk&gt;</i>&nbsp;and see what she has to say about it.<br /><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Finally done there more than a month late with the second day of this trip. I'm going to leave it here for a while, and end up with some pics of me in one of my classes dated Nov. 14, 2012. The kids are great, I like this age group better than high-school, but I think that's just my own shortcomings in classroom management. I must admit most of the highschool kids were amazing and only about a fourth of them made my life a living hell. I am a beginning teacher after all, and they really ate me alive. I learned never let them know you're angry: they win and you lose. Sister-in-law has some years of teaching experience on me, she had some really good advice concerning classroom management, and I must get a handle on that.<br /><br />My visa expires today, Sunday Nov. 25. I have to go to Laos tonight, packing into one of the dreaded mini-vans for an all night trip to Vientienne. Monday have to just hang out and wait for new double-entry tourist visa paperwork to be processed there at the embassy, then spend the night and head out on the 9 hour drive back to Bangkok Tuesday morning, back home Tuesday evening, then back at work on Wednesday morning. What a hassle. Costs about 6,000 baht ($195), and then I'm good for another 180 days. Anyway, looking forward to getting a taste of Laos. Duty free shop. <i>[edit: everything I saw in Laos seemed exactly the same as Thailand. Of course, I didn't get out to see much of anything.]</i><br /><br />Signing off for now, hoping you all are well and had a great Thanksgiving. Here's some shots of me in a classroom with some kids. I know, hard to believe.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEHDOlAxXdk/ULGrnpjF_YI/AAAAAAAAFTg/Rtq2XgkN0u4/s1600/IMG_2736small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEHDOlAxXdk/ULGrnpjF_YI/AAAAAAAAFTg/Rtq2XgkN0u4/s640/IMG_2736small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's up with the socks you ask? Hey, this is Asia. Everybody takes off their shoes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rghzAap-oNA/ULGro5u5XeI/AAAAAAAAFTo/nkoDAWBkQzQ/s1600/IMG_2740small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rghzAap-oNA/ULGro5u5XeI/AAAAAAAAFTo/nkoDAWBkQzQ/s640/IMG_2740small.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am, faking it. I'm not a teacher, I just play one on television.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />P.S. Everybody takes their shoes off when you go inside here, just about everywhere. Here's a pic of me at the dentist's office.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XKhxNKYREH4/ULUFJRc7YAI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/YmjhZ20nxSw/s1600/IMG_19800106_021113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XKhxNKYREH4/ULUFJRc7YAI/AAAAAAAAFUQ/YmjhZ20nxSw/s640/IMG_19800106_021113.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-30301614421972400412012-10-23T20:26:00.001-07:002013-05-01T17:08:48.368-07:00Weekend in Korat - SaturdayI met David in the TEFL course. We were the oldest ones, and seemed often to commiserate on the vagaries of sitting in a classroom with young adults barely out of their teens, taking notes on copious material of dubious use and submitting to being tested on it. I experienced this when I was around David's age 20 years ago as I put myself through the ordeal of 7 straight years of full-time degree work in music, always being the oldest one in my class, and watching many of those kids grow from teenagers to adulthood with all the angst and drama of youth in college that you'd expect. This was only a 6 week taste of that sort of thing, but often left David almost pulling his hair out. I'm grateful of our shared experience, for it quickly made us friends.<br /><br />Here's a bunch of pics taken mostly the first day. As always, you can click on them for a closer look.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yEyVdgnaOo/UIdaceCjNSI/AAAAAAAAE0s/Qc1BN9Pn_HI/s1600/IMG_2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0yEyVdgnaOo/UIdaceCjNSI/AAAAAAAAE0s/Qc1BN9Pn_HI/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Tung, on a walk across her family farm near Ratchasima.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tung is David's Thai partner, expert at Thai massage and presently studying how to cut hair somewhere down near Chatuchak park while David was in the course. She was offering massage here at the hotel which was great and convenient for me, but we all got busy with getting things done and I haven't been able to schedule a session lately. Some long standing problems with my shoulder have melted away, not sure exactly due to what but I am really getting to be a believer in this sometimes painful but usually therapeutic treatment.<br /><br />The course finished up Thursday afternoon so I was useless the rest of that day, and Friday was spent recovering. It was to be a long&nbsp;holiday weekend due to&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chulalongkorn" target="_blank">Chulalongkorn Day</a>&nbsp;(aka Rama V Day)&nbsp;on Tuesday,&nbsp;October 23, so David and Tung made plans to go visit her farm in Korat. I wanted a change of pace so I asked to tag along, eager for the chance to hang out with a Thai family and see rural life in Thailand first hand. They graciously agreed, so&nbsp;we made plans to catch a bus from the Chatuchak bus terminal on Saturday morning arriving 4 hours later in the closest city,&nbsp;Nakhon Ratchasima. From there we got on a truck Tung hired to get us the rest of the way to her home. I don't know how&nbsp;we got to her family farm&nbsp;after disembarking the bus, and I'm sure I would never be able to get there again on my own.&nbsp;It's&nbsp;located somewhere just west of the village of Nong Manao. Mueng Kong is in the area too.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt5RhpnNc8s/UIdVmbboTEI/AAAAAAAAEz0/Ir-bygjSXvY/s1600/IMG_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt5RhpnNc8s/UIdVmbboTEI/AAAAAAAAEz0/Ir-bygjSXvY/s400/IMG_2239.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We caught a taxi from our home to the Chatuchak Bus Depot, near the<br />Mochit BTS Station.&nbsp;Here sitting&nbsp;and waiting for Tung to<br />get us our bus fares.&nbsp;Mine cost 220 baht, about US $7.00</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rFHVsrVw180/UIdVuNBtlDI/AAAAAAAAEz8/DL-ELn8W-Bk/s1600/IMG_2242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rFHVsrVw180/UIdVuNBtlDI/AAAAAAAAEz8/DL-ELn8W-Bk/s400/IMG_2242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After we got the fare it's outside to where<br />the buses pull in to wait for ours to arrive.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzDnyyaNKP0/UIdVzuNnpmI/AAAAAAAAE0E/2LWRRYyBEG8/s1600/IMG_2247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzDnyyaNKP0/UIdVzuNnpmI/AAAAAAAAE0E/2LWRRYyBEG8/s400/IMG_2247.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Tung sorting out snacks, luggage, etc.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Ryf2N-TOQ/UIdV4XkGjsI/AAAAAAAAE0M/nuM8vT_Rn8g/s1600/IMG_2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Ryf2N-TOQ/UIdV4XkGjsI/AAAAAAAAE0M/nuM8vT_Rn8g/s400/IMG_2252.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are quite like hot dogs, but much more delicious.<br />Very plump, gooey with fat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PHHsb_KZoE/UIdV97VflkI/AAAAAAAAE0U/rA9unnhkTkI/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PHHsb_KZoE/UIdV97VflkI/AAAAAAAAE0U/rA9unnhkTkI/s400/IMG_2253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what Tung has here, but she's obviously very happy&nbsp;about<br />these...meat balls. I suspect it's some kind of&nbsp;pork&nbsp;something-or-other,<br />marinated and grilled.&nbsp;I'll have to try them myself soon,<br />I see them at many of the food carts.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44ZZzUuNHpU/UIdWE9x6jRI/AAAAAAAAE0c/fK9TffNv3W4/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44ZZzUuNHpU/UIdWE9x6jRI/AAAAAAAAE0c/fK9TffNv3W4/s400/IMG_2254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Settled in and ready to go. The bus is pretty comfortable,<br />and while the air-conditioning is not icy cold,&nbsp;it cools things down<br />well enough.&nbsp;I napped most of the way there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ratchasima is the largest town in the area, and that's where the bus stopped. Tung uses a man to cart her and her things around, and it took only a few minutes after we got off the bus before he found us, collected our belongings and took us to the Siam&nbsp;<a href="http://www.siammakro.co.th/" target="_blank">Makro</a>&nbsp;Cash &amp; Carry, very much like the largest Walmart or Sam's Club or Costco you've ever seen. I'll have to find one here in Bangkok as I've had quite enough of trying to navigate the thousands of small shops in half a dozen various malls and markets. I'm ready to go one place that has it all. The prices were pretty good too.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdAEJkjI5Vo/UIdczr9TtoI/AAAAAAAAE00/S-nNeCk9wcg/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdAEJkjI5Vo/UIdczr9TtoI/AAAAAAAAE00/S-nNeCk9wcg/s400/IMG_2257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling in to Ratchasima City bus station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AVzE6hRscMs/UIdc6iw2ppI/AAAAAAAAE1E/_uUvc_-oNgo/s1600/IMG_2260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AVzE6hRscMs/UIdc6iw2ppI/AAAAAAAAE1E/_uUvc_-oNgo/s400/IMG_2260.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tung has a man she uses to cart her and her things to and from the farm.<br />Here we are packing&nbsp;it all up and squeezing into the little pickup to go to the<br />Makro for supplies, and then&nbsp;the hour long ride to her country home.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It turned out to be quite a shopping spree, bagging a king-size mattress, hot water heater, lots of food, 3 cases of Leo beer, many and various household items. You can get it all at Siam Makro Cash &amp; Carry!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqY7tdIkzXg/UIdl5Ck8QSI/AAAAAAAAE1U/k4fCHn8ZKqc/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqY7tdIkzXg/UIdl5Ck8QSI/AAAAAAAAE1U/k4fCHn8ZKqc/s320/IMG_2263.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I lost track of how much food we got</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru7MVj_PFxA/UIdmCEvFwkI/AAAAAAAAE1g/Dewar7WvshI/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru7MVj_PFxA/UIdmCEvFwkI/AAAAAAAAE1g/Dewar7WvshI/s320/IMG_2264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't buy pumpkins, but had to include this pic of them.<br />I've never seen pumpkins like this. Later in the week I saw them at the<br />Tesco and one was cut open, it looked more like squash.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNJJQ8w_Xbo/UIdmMeuEVqI/AAAAAAAAE1o/WUCsmVQ4Zss/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNJJQ8w_Xbo/UIdmMeuEVqI/AAAAAAAAE1o/WUCsmVQ4Zss/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly after we bought the king-size mattress,<br />sold&nbsp;from a&nbsp;tent&nbsp;in&nbsp;the parking lot,&nbsp;tied down on&nbsp;top of everything else<br />we got&nbsp;plus&nbsp;luggage, in the Macro&nbsp;parking lot, and about ready to hit the road.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Poor David and Tung were shoehorned in the back king-cab area of this little truck, and I had the passenger seat with my knees up near my ears. Driving out of town the scenery looked like pretty typical farm land you might see in the US, same kinds of trucks stops and water towers...well, enough of a difference to make you think you are in the Twight Zone.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXmXEz_mNQU/UIm5g_wC4eI/AAAAAAAAE2Q/AjcqvqWa988/s1600/IMG_2285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXmXEz_mNQU/UIm5g_wC4eI/AAAAAAAAE2Q/AjcqvqWa988/s200/IMG_2285.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty scenery, lots of open spaces</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHBMl2ux1V8/UIm5R7sktPI/AAAAAAAAE14/KUMefpAEogg/s1600/IMG_2268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHBMl2ux1V8/UIm5R7sktPI/AAAAAAAAE14/KUMefpAEogg/s200/IMG_2268.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got out my ukulele and tried to liven things<br />up, but it was a little too cramped. Our driver<br />put on some Thai pop music that made my ears bleed.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: left;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1XXZbZvcI4/UIm5XxHcs5I/AAAAAAAAE2A/2ONVJQmlPI8/s1600/IMG_2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H1XXZbZvcI4/UIm5XxHcs5I/AAAAAAAAE2A/2ONVJQmlPI8/s200/IMG_2278.JPG" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone talks about how many<br />Starbucks&nbsp;there are here.<br />I see far more 7-11's</td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NEpH0smW-3s/UIm5dfziywI/AAAAAAAAE2I/yHB35Xhrck0/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NEpH0smW-3s/UIm5dfziywI/AAAAAAAAE2I/yHB35Xhrck0/s200/IMG_2280.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These monuments to the royalty are at<br />the entrances to most towns</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPdc29PQUWQ/UIm5l8oXHcI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/hk1SCerSD8M/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPdc29PQUWQ/UIm5l8oXHcI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/hk1SCerSD8M/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I meant by Twilight Zone, like an alternate<br />reality, with most of the things you're familiar with,<br />just...different</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBxaKRl8BBE/UInHMEe1wZI/AAAAAAAAE2s/hoNOHtUbr2Q/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBxaKRl8BBE/UInHMEe1wZI/AAAAAAAAE2s/hoNOHtUbr2Q/s320/IMG_2293.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This very nice house is obviously the<br />home of a well-to-do westerner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKeNXVYJ_6Q/UInHeBSkLdI/AAAAAAAAE3E/Sig03fY4w9o/s1600/IMG_2303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKeNXVYJ_6Q/UInHeBSkLdI/AAAAAAAAE3E/Sig03fY4w9o/s200/IMG_2303.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally reach a small town</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5bGJEF1R1E/UInHjLQ0HRI/AAAAAAAAE3M/upLSIlHJWeg/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i5bGJEF1R1E/UInHjLQ0HRI/AAAAAAAAE3M/upLSIlHJWeg/s200/IMG_2304.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">Pretty sleepy around here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p-obZSwNeVY/UInHYYmnqnI/AAAAAAAAE28/_qt9hONwuDE/s1600/IMG_2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p-obZSwNeVY/UInHYYmnqnI/AAAAAAAAE28/_qt9hONwuDE/s200/IMG_2299.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty country</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ElOlLQ6wp6U/UInHo_0YPzI/AAAAAAAAE3U/Iv-mn2O7PLI/s1600/IMG_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ElOlLQ6wp6U/UInHo_0YPzI/AAAAAAAAE3U/Iv-mn2O7PLI/s320/IMG_2305.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This in front of a small market where we <br />stopped for some food. I think this was <br />shading the driver as he napped.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp; <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbrELPz_WX8/UInHv7f7l4I/AAAAAAAAE3c/u56w843tkas/s1600/IMG_2308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbrELPz_WX8/UInHv7f7l4I/AAAAAAAAE3c/u56w843tkas/s200/IMG_2308.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">This looked like a great way to cook pork,<br />will have to try it some time. Yes, it was<br />as delicious as it looks.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">As things got progressively more rural, I saw odd, colorful farm trucks with loud, single-cylinder engines. They are discussed a bit in this </span><a href="http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/466694-thai-farm-trucks/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">sub-forum post</a><span style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;at the ever useful&nbsp;site </span><a href="http://www.thaivisa.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">ThaiVisa</a><span style="text-align: left;">. Though they were all over the place I never could catch one standing still. They are powered by watercooled single-cylinder diesel thumpers, and they are really LOUD. This pic is clear enough to make out the name, the </span><a href="http://www.boyaequip.com.au/store/system/Products-Engines-RT100DIN" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Kubota RT</a><span style="text-align: left;"> series of engines.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp3zLxv3P_0/UIc_zpkX1AI/AAAAAAAAEzk/VOclwPX13rc/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yp3zLxv3P_0/UIc_zpkX1AI/AAAAAAAAEzk/VOclwPX13rc/s400/IMG_2289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've always been annoyed that my camera has about a one second delay from the time&nbsp;of<br />pressingthe shutter button to when it actually takes the picture. I've about&nbsp;learned&nbsp;how<br />to time it to&nbsp;where it sometimes gets a fast moving pic in the frame.&nbsp;This was taken<br />out the front&nbsp;window&nbsp;of the truck we rode in, barely&nbsp;catching this farm truck as it drove by.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />These engines just didn't look very big, and when I did a little research on them this morning, I honestly had to read it twice. These little trucks are built to carry a full contingent of farm workers and tons, that's right, tons of cargo. The engine you see in that truck right there is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu3jKor412g" target="_blank">Kubota RT 140</a>, and it is all of FOURTEEN HORSEPOWER. Apparently many of them use no more than 10 HP versions. How can that be? We in the western world are steeped in easy and cheap power, little cars with hundreds of horsepower to enhance "the driving experience". Even my neighbor's <i><b>leaf blower</b></i> back in Vancouver, Washington (which he uses incessantly to keep his house and grounds free from any speck of dirt) is probably about 1/10 the rated horsepower of the engine in that farm truck. It is quite incredible to me. A little looking around on the web found this&nbsp;<a href="http://boingboing.net/2009/08/02/incredible-thai-etan.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;with some info on them, they're called Etan trucks. Also very happy to find this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AmeF4jV8gw" target="_blank">youtube video</a> of one driving through Thai farmland. The author mentions they won't be around much longer. Don't know where he get's that information, I saw (and heard) dozens of them the several days I was there. If true, that's a pity--though I can't see such an economical arrangement replaced by <i>anything</i>&nbsp;better at the present time. I'd happily drive to work in one every day, parking alongside my friends' Hondas and Isuzus, and giving something for the Hummer owner to point and laugh at.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVqQX9oubmw/UInMnpFljTI/AAAAAAAAE30/b4tzClvgDis/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVqQX9oubmw/UInMnpFljTI/AAAAAAAAE30/b4tzClvgDis/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh oh. Roosters. This doesn't look good</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usESnfZHRW0/UInMtsyvHRI/AAAAAAAAE38/eVritX4uvw0/s1600/IMG_2317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usESnfZHRW0/UInMtsyvHRI/AAAAAAAAE38/eVritX4uvw0/s320/IMG_2317.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last stretch, almost there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMyYZ5-WQGk/UInMzOjwUTI/AAAAAAAAE4E/lixy_YYcqr0/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMyYZ5-WQGk/UInMzOjwUTI/AAAAAAAAE4E/lixy_YYcqr0/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling into the driveway and stretching our legs. <br />I think the drive was more than an hour.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2z6T5f78-cw/UInM41GovHI/AAAAAAAAE4M/-mpd3dgMfoU/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2z6T5f78-cw/UInM41GovHI/AAAAAAAAE4M/-mpd3dgMfoU/s320/IMG_2331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glad to be out of that little truck. Tung seems happy too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnOJxyeSmGk/UInM_0YYGAI/AAAAAAAAE4U/g9okvwHtntw/s1600/IMG_2332a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnOJxyeSmGk/UInM_0YYGAI/AAAAAAAAE4U/g9okvwHtntw/s320/IMG_2332a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer Leo. Not bad stuff.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyCAHIXGmEQ/UInNFsefEAI/AAAAAAAAE4c/64DhGATAzzI/s1600/IMG_2338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cyCAHIXGmEQ/UInNFsefEAI/AAAAAAAAE4c/64DhGATAzzI/s320/IMG_2338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls dig into the ice cream we brought</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvq2X-zKa3Q/UInNK7fh_8I/AAAAAAAAE4k/xxLL1IMEWuo/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvq2X-zKa3Q/UInNK7fh_8I/AAAAAAAAE4k/xxLL1IMEWuo/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's gone in no time</td></tr></tbody></table>The final 2 or 3 kilometers was along a very rough dirt road. I've noticed how much of the dirt around here is red, a lot like Oklahoma. We got out of that truck in a hurry, and quickly unloaded the cargo, got the beer cooling, stood the mattress up near the staircase, made introductions when the neighbors came around. There were 5 girls who were always together, tallest one is Pu, Tung's 11 year old daughter. The smallest ones are twins, and you always see these girls together. David broke out a carton of ice cream and they all descended on it, gone pretty quick.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rjN6WwgnLc/UInoJ6FqhsI/AAAAAAAAE8g/umz2Jk865ps/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rjN6WwgnLc/UInoJ6FqhsI/AAAAAAAAE8g/umz2Jk865ps/s640/IMG_2406.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa didn't come home from work until later, but I thought I'd better <br />post a pic of him now. He is one year younger than me, and I sure <br />wish I had his abs. He doesn't say much. He wai'd me pretty<br />deep the first time we met, I guess because my hair is so grey.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSvpyTAX_pY/UInpZV3d-YI/AAAAAAAAE8o/mCQIZrkGZoY/s1600/IMG_2704a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSvpyTAX_pY/UInpZV3d-YI/AAAAAAAAE8o/mCQIZrkGZoY/s320/IMG_2704a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Mama. She really took a shine to me for some reason,<br />really made my stay a wonderful experience. I can't believe I<br />didn't get a better pic of her than this.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here's a look around the house. I'm not a good judge of area, but the area the house and out buildings sit on seem to be approximately the same area as the floor I live on in this hotel, about 4,000 square feet. The rice paddies and fields are a short walk away.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxgXU9FFCDU/UInQygiBbOI/AAAAAAAAE44/WByGc0S0TQg/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxgXU9FFCDU/UInQygiBbOI/AAAAAAAAE44/WByGc0S0TQg/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the front of the house there are three low platforms made<br />&nbsp;of hardwood.&nbsp;One of them has a floor made<br />of bamboo strips and is pretty springy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g0YD_eAoEzg/UInjVyu8-PI/AAAAAAAAE8A/1okzImd88Ew/s1600/IMG_2508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g0YD_eAoEzg/UInjVyu8-PI/AAAAAAAAE8A/1okzImd88Ew/s320/IMG_2508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I had a ton of bamboo back at home I never knew what to do<br />with. I just knew you could make something really neat with it.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QT8klAY2rtw/UInjbuk-ToI/AAAAAAAAE8I/ST4m_vJKkEs/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QT8klAY2rtw/UInjbuk-ToI/AAAAAAAAE8I/ST4m_vJKkEs/s320/IMG_2511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XMu3A1XCXm4/UInSG-OAh4I/AAAAAAAAE6o/7KNG8j7KgEs/s1600/IMG_2502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XMu3A1XCXm4/UInSG-OAh4I/AAAAAAAAE6o/7KNG8j7KgEs/s320/IMG_2502.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the back of the house from over by the cow shed</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVAk-GMspNc/UInQ-CY7oKI/AAAAAAAAE5I/awe8vklUhsU/s1600/IMG_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVAk-GMspNc/UInQ-CY7oKI/AAAAAAAAE5I/awe8vklUhsU/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stepping out the back door and looking into the kitchen area</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jliZZm4n0yM/UInRERm4xmI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/_sXkWJ6H1tk/s1600/IMG_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jliZZm4n0yM/UInRERm4xmI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/_sXkWJ6H1tk/s320/IMG_2324.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They keep 3 Brahma cows, for meat I guess. <br />David said&nbsp;they don't milk them.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oniSaxX2bl0/UIngT5KaZTI/AAAAAAAAE7M/3an0ucnoQrY/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oniSaxX2bl0/UIngT5KaZTI/AAAAAAAAE7M/3an0ucnoQrY/s320/IMG_2354.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1RPFfLe2MI/UInRUnMcU3I/AAAAAAAAE5k/_iYefp-ZFOw/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1RPFfLe2MI/UInRUnMcU3I/AAAAAAAAE5k/_iYefp-ZFOw/s400/IMG_2327.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning around with the cow shed to my back you<br />see&nbsp;this building, used to store the rice harvest.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bPdnavpqlE/UInRLpABU4I/AAAAAAAAE5c/IfQAaBMtr30/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bPdnavpqlE/UInRLpABU4I/AAAAAAAAE5c/IfQAaBMtr30/s400/IMG_2326.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a new cart David bought for Papa. Before, he<br />would just&nbsp;cut grass for the cows and carry it<br />home on his back.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7NWGILaxVQ/UInRnRMBz9I/AAAAAAAAE58/Rr7Hn1SXmB0/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7NWGILaxVQ/UInRnRMBz9I/AAAAAAAAE58/Rr7Hn1SXmB0/s320/IMG_2330.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brand new outhouse with kitchen wash up area. David told <br />me he bought the materials on the last visit and Papa built it. <br />This trip he&nbsp;brought a water heater. Once it was installed<br />the next day&nbsp;we had hot showers.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdilb620u58/UIneszVUMkI/AAAAAAAAE68/IPDmxe1ylOs/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdilb620u58/UIneszVUMkI/AAAAAAAAE68/IPDmxe1ylOs/s320/IMG_2353.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the side of the new outhouse there were these large<br />earthenware &nbsp;jars used to store rainwater collected<br />off the roof.&nbsp;I drank rainwater the entire time I was there.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aL0MT8vwEII/UInRcuPqXEI/AAAAAAAAE5s/cAJuMtnNkME/s1600/IMG_2328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aL0MT8vwEII/UInRcuPqXEI/AAAAAAAAE5s/cAJuMtnNkME/s400/IMG_2328.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view past one of the buildings into a neighboring lot,<br />and path that winds it's way off there.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ME8HmQYRrzQ/UInRiO9LptI/AAAAAAAAE50/L5anUWejSCM/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ME8HmQYRrzQ/UInRiO9LptI/AAAAAAAAE50/L5anUWejSCM/s640/IMG_2329.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another look between a couple of the outbuildings, to the <br />farm lands in the distance.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ybpw31v5osw/UInQ4dPiGJI/AAAAAAAAE5A/gEwZ90884Vk/s1600/IMG_2321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ybpw31v5osw/UInQ4dPiGJI/AAAAAAAAE5A/gEwZ90884Vk/s400/IMG_2321.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of two adjoining ground floor rooms. We have<br />stacked things just inside the doorway.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIsuW72d7A/UInRxigiL1I/AAAAAAAAE6M/WEb8XhruGX4/s1600/IMG_2344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TgIsuW72d7A/UInRxigiL1I/AAAAAAAAE6M/WEb8XhruGX4/s320/IMG_2344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I honestly have no idea how the hell we are going to get that<br />king-size mattress up that stair case.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylVg8dpbR7k/UInRsp-nsZI/AAAAAAAAE6E/KHKgIUKae18/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylVg8dpbR7k/UInRsp-nsZI/AAAAAAAAE6E/KHKgIUKae18/s320/IMG_2343.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope, no way is that going up there.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jpoeEmd3dE/UIngZAeVSgI/AAAAAAAAE7U/HEHdCpmbGvM/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jpoeEmd3dE/UIngZAeVSgI/AAAAAAAAE7U/HEHdCpmbGvM/s320/IMG_2377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a couple views of the second room</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRB3txH1Ogc/UIngeNudtNI/AAAAAAAAE7c/_WIX5dRpzS8/s1600/IMG_2514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GRB3txH1Ogc/UIngeNudtNI/AAAAAAAAE7c/_WIX5dRpzS8/s320/IMG_2514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOhetNOg3Tg/UIngizP2u-I/AAAAAAAAE7k/-6x9_Sj4dxQ/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOhetNOg3Tg/UIngizP2u-I/AAAAAAAAE7k/-6x9_Sj4dxQ/s320/IMG_2520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the upstairs</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoOKSzToATs/UInR3h8kkkI/AAAAAAAAE6U/hDeNwmvDS3s/s1600/IMG_2345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoOKSzToATs/UInR3h8kkkI/AAAAAAAAE6U/hDeNwmvDS3s/s320/IMG_2345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So we got relaxed and had a bite to eat. I did most of the eating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mml_hqVTfg/UInqwbiMC8I/AAAAAAAAE8w/o1QoWfnVizo/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mml_hqVTfg/UInqwbiMC8I/AAAAAAAAE8w/o1QoWfnVizo/s320/IMG_2350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are what Mama uses to barbeque things on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TtxyusBjZ-0/UInq2V3yWJI/AAAAAAAAE84/f3LLVqc7c7k/s1600/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TtxyusBjZ-0/UInq2V3yWJI/AAAAAAAAE84/f3LLVqc7c7k/s320/IMG_2352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5jUhUGlC5M/UInq7wuYyJI/AAAAAAAAE9A/0EUj0GxTZc8/s1600/IMG_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5jUhUGlC5M/UInq7wuYyJI/AAAAAAAAE9A/0EUj0GxTZc8/s320/IMG_2357.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should have found out what these herbs were</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEnlOmIufe8/UInrCg4aWuI/AAAAAAAAE9I/vBnpjL7-lZs/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEnlOmIufe8/UInrCg4aWuI/AAAAAAAAE9I/vBnpjL7-lZs/s320/IMG_2359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three fish, Tung calls, pla yang. We got at the Siam Makro Cash &amp; Carry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASGmpy4l3TE/UInrHKAxaWI/AAAAAAAAE9Q/VbhRbwJGVl0/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASGmpy4l3TE/UInrHKAxaWI/AAAAAAAAE9Q/VbhRbwJGVl0/s400/IMG_2360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slits made in them and salt, fish sauce and who knows what<br />else worked in there and left to marinate for a while.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEOXIJfyorA/UInrO_8zNUI/AAAAAAAAE9Y/SQEBn7OGsy8/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEOXIJfyorA/UInrO_8zNUI/AAAAAAAAE9Y/SQEBn7OGsy8/s320/IMG_2364.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama cut a couple banana leaves off a tree and <br />wrapped the fish in it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7LE8v7gCNs/UInrUpwnoYI/AAAAAAAAE9g/trDy6UMhLqw/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7LE8v7gCNs/UInrUpwnoYI/AAAAAAAAE9g/trDy6UMhLqw/s400/IMG_2368.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess it keeps things moist, adds some flavor and holds<br />things together so they don't fall through the grate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNAm0sxFLLw/UInrbK-Ix5I/AAAAAAAAE9s/u4kCgIuiwX8/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNAm0sxFLLw/UInrbK-Ix5I/AAAAAAAAE9s/u4kCgIuiwX8/s400/IMG_2370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9YIEYYj-c/UInrgjRzOjI/AAAAAAAAE90/FxbHALqGjjs/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc9YIEYYj-c/UInrgjRzOjI/AAAAAAAAE90/FxbHALqGjjs/s640/IMG_2372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My god these are looking good</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgN3MTqg6Wk/UInrl29wJaI/AAAAAAAAE98/KaFXwqN2Qv0/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VgN3MTqg6Wk/UInrl29wJaI/AAAAAAAAE98/KaFXwqN2Qv0/s400/IMG_2373.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNX6zIjDXNc/UInrsBqGk7I/AAAAAAAAE-E/qeQlTKZBRW8/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNX6zIjDXNc/UInrsBqGk7I/AAAAAAAAE-E/qeQlTKZBRW8/s320/IMG_2374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the items in Mama's pantry. That's about half<br />gallon of sliced ginger there front and center. I got<br />sent home with a bit of that.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA_vUD4VTC8/UInrxhH6tZI/AAAAAAAAE-M/mpeYd2UC0D8/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA_vUD4VTC8/UInrxhH6tZI/AAAAAAAAE-M/mpeYd2UC0D8/s320/IMG_2375.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I kind of like that little spool for a handle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ADqiJ7QLBU/UInr4T1WaSI/AAAAAAAAE-U/EufeID6OxX0/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ADqiJ7QLBU/UInr4T1WaSI/AAAAAAAAE-U/EufeID6OxX0/s640/IMG_2379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hold me back</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gw1PKOHprTw/UInsDN8bogI/AAAAAAAAE-c/dtKdcEgjKz8/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gw1PKOHprTw/UInsDN8bogI/AAAAAAAAE-c/dtKdcEgjKz8/s640/IMG_2381.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuhn Kob, the human vacuum cleaner.<br />There was&nbsp;not&nbsp;much left of&nbsp;those pretty little<br />pink fish&nbsp;when&nbsp;I was done.<br />I never had&nbsp;fish that tasted this good.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sXWoaGAgV6c/UKTwKis49kI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/1nRiFM9n6zI/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sXWoaGAgV6c/UKTwKis49kI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/1nRiFM9n6zI/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--yXO0JnOAmw/UKTwVBjWYiI/AAAAAAAAFAY/nMGYtcWQO80/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--yXO0JnOAmw/UKTwVBjWYiI/AAAAAAAAFAY/nMGYtcWQO80/s320/IMG_2384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LjlnvCZb9Q/UKTyZzXozeI/AAAAAAAAFAg/3aFzK7SQsgw/s1600/IMG_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_LjlnvCZb9Q/UKTyZzXozeI/AAAAAAAAFAg/3aFzK7SQsgw/s320/IMG_2388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9bBotByvFhw/UKTyfBuMhWI/AAAAAAAAFAo/ggWkWsSTpUo/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9bBotByvFhw/UKTyfBuMhWI/AAAAAAAAFAo/ggWkWsSTpUo/s320/IMG_2400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't think it would go, but I was wrong. Who knew you could fold a king size mattress in half? Not me. I didn't get to sleep on it, some of those who were pushing and pulling did.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Afterwards we retired to the front porch for some pickin' and grinnin'. The neighbors all stopped by to see the farang and his ukulele serenade every woman within arm's reach.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXnhAEhb-GA/UKTz1CBlGuI/AAAAAAAAFAw/wUedzRlOKyI/s1600/IMG_2411a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXnhAEhb-GA/UKTz1CBlGuI/AAAAAAAAFAw/wUedzRlOKyI/s320/IMG_2411a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WLfAE_Qnhs/UKT0AYPoBCI/AAAAAAAAFA4/R6u_OddJrKo/s1600/IMG_2414a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WLfAE_Qnhs/UKT0AYPoBCI/AAAAAAAAFA4/R6u_OddJrKo/s320/IMG_2414a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BysmKrQVc_o/UKT0fOas6UI/AAAAAAAAFBA/KJLdXSpThKQ/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BysmKrQVc_o/UKT0fOas6UI/AAAAAAAAFBA/KJLdXSpThKQ/s320/IMG_2416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ0g7qAaOkI/UKT0oWCq5xI/AAAAAAAAFBI/680e0FB_yf4/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ0g7qAaOkI/UKT0oWCq5xI/AAAAAAAAFBI/680e0FB_yf4/s320/IMG_2420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got sleepy early, but not sure what time it was when I turned in. I slept upstairs in a&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mosquito net. They provided me with a fan too, but it was actually too cool with it on. It is a different feeling out here than Bangkok. The breezes are cool, and I can sleep without air or fan. I had to get up to visit the toilet during the night, and it was an adventure finding my way in the dark. My little phone has a torch light, probably saved me from going headfirst down the stairs.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdIbAk75XNk/ULFx0FRkv7I/AAAAAAAAFBg/Pm8VzGdpKlw/s1600/IMG_2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdIbAk75XNk/ULFx0FRkv7I/AAAAAAAAFBg/Pm8VzGdpKlw/s320/IMG_2520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I slept up here. You can see the net attached to the walls.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hK7b4Edn2gQ/ULFyiPffb6I/AAAAAAAAFBo/FHj2RrLphc0/s1600/IMG_2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hK7b4Edn2gQ/ULFyiPffb6I/AAAAAAAAFBo/FHj2RrLphc0/s640/IMG_2449.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what I woke up to the next morning.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSV5UWRckeQ/ULFykNQUI8I/AAAAAAAAFBw/rSnHQZnku_8/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WSV5UWRckeQ/ULFykNQUI8I/AAAAAAAAFBw/rSnHQZnku_8/s400/IMG_2452.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's like a little house. Pretty fun. I had the mattresses <br />and several pillows in there, it was very comfortable.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a good night's sleep and awakening to sunlight streaming through the space between the wall and ceiling. It's all open air.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry it's taken me so long to update this post, I've been very busy and more than a little worried after returning home, beginning a job search, settling into a new job, learning the ropes of the bus system and visa process, etc. It's Nov. 25 already, my visa expires today and I must travel to Laos to get another one. Jumping ahead here, I'll get on to the second day now of this long, long post about Korat that happened several weeks ago.&nbsp;</div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-72006876478011587322012-10-23T16:47:00.001-07:002012-10-23T16:47:34.552-07:00GraduatedDone at last, TEFL certificate in hand. The course seemed longer than six weeks. Last day consisted of a discussion of CV style, mock interviews, coaching on difficult questions, pizza party and photos. Then everyone melted away to their respective celebrations and&nbsp;decompressions. Mine was having a few drinks with friends over some Italianesque food and early to bed around 9 PM while I could still walk. I haven't been sleeping a lot each night, tending towards staying up late to get assignments done and then awakened when the sun comes up the next morning. Unless I'm completely exhausted it's difficult for me to sleep when it gets light. I know I had one of those eye masks from the airlines at some point but I don't know what I did with it, would probably come in handy. This morning I slept almost until 9:00 AM, so I must have been needing to catch up on sleep. This was the case the next day also, now that I have nothing to do I feel almost drugged. Tomorrow I accompany David and Tung on a journey to Tung's home in Korat. We will take the bus, supposed to be pretty quick and easy. For now, just hanging out at home in my apartment and vegging out.Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-39557513190178657472012-10-01T19:49:00.002-07:002013-07-25T01:37:39.481-07:00Halfway done with the courseToday marks the halfway point of the TEFL course I'm in and the second time I have taught Thai people. I feel much better about things this time, as the first attempt I sort of bombed. I don't know why I got so nervous, I don't so much when I perform. This course pushes so many details at me I don't know which way is up. I'm finally getting an idea of how to stitch all the concepts together to make a fairly cohesive lesson plan, but initially the problem was me just going brain dead and forgetting the simplest of things. So many things to remember when you're in front of an audience. I believe it will get better each time I do it, so just got to keep on doing it (or lose the investment).<br /><br />I mentioned about performing, haven't brought that up before. I play the lute. Once was quite serious about it, but it was too daunting a thought to try and make a living at it, so I went back to drafting. I brought my two remaining lutes I with me to Bangkok, hoping I would not regret this. Saturday I tuned one of them up had a moto-taxi carry me to Po's coffee shop, strapped on my back like a guitar, weaving my way through the sois and up on sidewalks in Bangkok. Wish I had a picture. Just so I could run through my old repertoire. I thought about doing this the week before when it came up as I was chatting with Po. He didn't know the lute, so I had him google it there in his coffee shop. The first video hit that came up was an old roommate of mine. I exclaimed the fact, and I suspect Po looked askance at me thinking, "Yeah, right!" I told myself I better bring my lute and play for him to show him I'm not one of the local farang bullshitters, so I showed up about 11 am Saturday morning and began to play. It's hard not to let that single experience color everything, but it did get me considering things. Among my thoughts after playing French baroque lute suites for two hours was this: the lute and it's repertoire is in direct contrast to Thai music and Thai sensibilities. It isn't a good instrument for Thailand. Bangkok is too hot, too noisy, the instrument is too quiet and the repertoire is generally too slow and somber for Thai people. That might be way too much of a generalization, I know this is a big city with a widely varied population, but it was my first impression. I think six people at most came in while I was playing and none of them acknowledged me, which in my experience is not that unusual in such a situation...back home. But a lute in Bangkok? Wouldn't that invite one or two comments? The usual ones, like "What the hell is that?" and my favorite, "How many strings are on that thing?" I could have been a recording. In fairness, Po said he liked it and I can play again there any time. He said my playing made him think of a small college called <a href="http://www.music.mahidol.ac.th/" target="_blank">Mahidol</a>&nbsp;about 30 km straight west of Chatuchak because&nbsp;they have a serious, highly regarded music program that I might be a good fit in. Po has been a very helpful guy. I wrote an email to one of the professors in the musicology department, but I remember reading that Thai staff at schools often don't respond to emails very quickly (if at all), so perhaps I should try giving him a call in a week or two.<br /><br />Playing like that made me realize how out-of-shape I am. Stamina, accuracy, tone, they all have suffered from my decade of inactivity. I feel I must confess here that the main reason I brought them with me is that I would have no way to physically prove I have music degrees. I mean, they could surely be authenticated easily enough, but I'm talking about first impressions. I can't walk into a chorus or band class and start conducting. I am not prepared to lecture on European renaissance or baroque history. My efforts were all towards playing this obscure repertoire, and it would have to be on this instrument that I impress with my abilities. Well, also I couldn't find anyone to buy them. I'm sure I would have sold them had I been able to find anyone to give me near what they are worth. So fate decrees that I must continue playing them for better or for worse. Perhaps if I persevere, and get over my abhorrence of amplified lutes, I'll fall ass-backwards into an appreciative audience. I remember once I took the little renaissance lute into a music store in Tucson looking for a suitable amplification rig, when two members of a Mexican band heard me noodling. They went crazy over it and suggested I play salsa on it. The tone is not the problem with these instruments, everybody likes the beautiful sound. It's the difficult and somber nature of the repertoire that can be the problem--it is a serious music for a serious people. Thais like to have fun. At this point I can't see many of them caring much for a French <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuDEljsB13w&amp;feature=related" target="_blank"><i>tombeau</i></a> however well-played, or a rousing rendition of <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBBo8qHe95k" target="_blank">"Flow My Tears"</a></i>. South Korea might be a different story.<br /><br />Well, here it is 10 am on a Tuesday. I taught my second lesson last night, and I had some mosquito problems in the middle of the night, so I slept in today. Have to get my butt in gear and get going to class soon. My third and last adult teaching assignment will be Thursday evening, a small elementary level class at the same office we taught before. The assigned subject is "Rain or Shine", all the things you can do in different kinds of weather. There are basically two kinds of weather here that I know of: hot-and-wet, and hot-and-dry. I sincerely doubt many of my future students have gone downhill skiing or ice fishing. Anyway, one thing I know I must do is make it funny. Those always go over the best. A big hit is one my fellow student's lesson entitled "My Favorite Alien", where you compare how many noses and fingers your alien has. Again, Thais like to have fun. Hey, we all like to have fun. I guess that's why I don't play lute much anymore.<br /><br />So I bought a ukulele. Supposed to do my student teaching on 3rd graders and 8th graders Sunday. Parents drop them off and head to the malls, we are basically baby sitters for two hours I guess. So I went out today and bought a ukulele at JJ Mall near Chatuchak Weekend Market. I know I saw some that were in the 1200฿ range but it just wasn't worth searching around in these gigantic malls with 40,000 little shops and you don't know where anything is. I paid about $15 too much for this one at around&nbsp;1700฿ and I don't care. I think that's around $55. It sounds OK, fits in my backpack.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uum0aCJ6u6c/UfDjlTRACNI/AAAAAAAAF3M/2Oez29RtlWs/s1600/IMG_2233smallest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uum0aCJ6u6c/UfDjlTRACNI/AAAAAAAAF3M/2Oez29RtlWs/s320/IMG_2233smallest.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-71670860804304708132012-09-21T20:16:00.000-07:002012-10-21T02:26:51.217-07:00Moved to Thailand<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Things are going OK here, finally have gotten busy with the course.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;My&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.teflteachthai.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">TEFL</a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">classmates number 10 now: 1 South African (the teacher is South African as well), 1 Scot, 1 Aussie, 2 Brits, 1 Canuck, 1 Swede, and 3 Yanks.&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second week is over, it's early Saturday morning now and I feel the need to hit it hard today and get my lesson plan written. It seems like a pretty good course, written before 2000 with the needs of the Thai people addressed well. I'm impressed with the qualities of my teacher. He says don't overdo it, try to have fun, "...good teaching is about inspiration, not perspiration..." but I am just not there yet. Am feeling apprehensive about my first lesson as a teacher this coming Tuesday evening for Thai adults in some kind of real estate office in the evening. It will go fine, I just want to do the best I can.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I settled into&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.pmansion.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">PMansion</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, they have a deal going with the school--slightly reduced rent on a studio for <a href="http://www.xe.com/ucc/" target="_blank">6,000 baht</a>&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for student referrals, so that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;is what most everyone gets. However, I opted for the 9,000 baht room which is same size in square meters, but it has a partitioned bedroom and all kitchen and dining items (supposedly). My cooking facilities were designed for a 4'-6" tall Thai. I'm 6'-2". I think the selling point for me was the cooking facilities and that it's on the corner of the building where there are two small windows on one wall, and one large window on another wall. As a result, I am able to get a nice cross breeze. Most of the studios just have the one large window in the back. $200 spent at the local Tesco got me everything else, like cleaning supplies, trash cans, food, floor fan, laundry items, the odd bit of clothing, etc. It's sort of like a Walmart. Mosquitos are not near as bad here as I thought it would be (I'm on the 8th floor), but I still get the odd one that came up in the elevator or however. If he only bit once and got his fill I'd be OK with that, but he has to sample all over my body numerous times, insufferable, and that means war. I had to get out of bed at 2 a.m. and get dressed, walk half a kilometer to the 7/11 to buy a can of insect killer and some repellent, walk back and spray the room. Hang out downstairs with the night watchman for 20 minutes while it works, come back up to air the room out for another 20 minutes, spray myself down and then try to get back to sleep. I'm totally onboard with the current ongoing&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">effort to eradicate the mosquito</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">&nbsp;from the face of the earth.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I met a Thai woman a year ago via chat. We got to know each other a little on my December vacation, and now that I'm here she's turned out to be a pretty good girlfriend. I'm not a particularly good judge of character, so if I hook up with good people I often breathe a sigh of relief and consider myself a lucky man. She has been instrumental in reducing the amount of stress I'd otherwise have, helping me get around (she is an expert Bangkok driver), translating, watching out for me and keeping me occupied and out of trouble and such. I often feel grateful for her and her circle of Bangkok friends.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It's usually very hot here, and the route to school is along a busy road with dicey sidewalks. The sidewalks are shared with motorcycle taxis and vendors. There is one vendor in particular I have to watch out for, one of the shade poles on his cart is a bare-ended pipe aimed exactly at my eye level (safely above the heads of Thais), and twice I have looked up just in time to avoid losing an eye. Both times I've looked towards the cart, which was unmanned. I will try to be civil in pointing it out to the owner if I can ever catch them at home. You kind of have to be on your toes to dodge things like this. There are many holes, uneven-ness and loose pieces of concrete in the sidewalk. I'm learning I must be scanning all the time and have developed a degree of nimbleness. Lately I have familiarized myself with the buses between home and school, and I tend to take them now. The price is anywhere from free (a little beat up, wood floors, open-air) to 7 baht (same but air-conditioned) to 11 baht (modern and air-conditioned). 11 baht is presently about 37 cents. Were I to take a taxi which I do at times, it's about 60 baht, or $2. None of them go fast, the traffic is awful. If I'm in a hurry I will avail myself of the motorcycle taxis for about 30 baht and say a prayer. They ride all over the place, zooming between lanes so I can touch a bus with one hand and a car with the other, on the sidewalks, the wrong way along the edge of the road or the median, it's a thrill-and-a-half and knees must be kept tightly in lest we knock someone's rear-view mirror off with one of my stray limbs.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">I will probably stay here at PMansion only for the course, it seems unlikely I will find a job that is near here...but who knows? The lady at the front desk told me people come there for one night and stay two nights, 1 month, 1 year, then 10 years.&nbsp;Just came up from the lobby, where my classmates and I were hanging out and having a few beers after the end of the week, when we met one of these tenants. She has lived in this hotel for over 9 years. We bent her ear about two hours as she is a fountain of information about visas and working in Thailand, many of the things we want to know more about, and we are all grateful to meet her. There seems to be no lease here, but perhaps rent would be even cheaper if you negotiated one. Anyway, when I get a job I'll simply move close to wherever that is in about six weeks (fingers crossed). Of course I have no idea where that will be, this is a huge city. I thought at first I'd like to stay on the outskirts and away from the pollution, but who knows. It all depends on my opportunities. I may stay in the city and learn about it, some really fascinating things here. In the meantime will try to learn some Thai, it's getting old trying to communicate through hand gestures, though it can be fun sometimes: the other day I was eating some kind of noodle something. A bit of meat, bit of vegetables with some soup (normally about 30 baht/98¢), and the meat was gone quite fast. I tried to describe to the vendor with chopping motions to cut me a little more and dump it in my bowl. I promptly received a half a duck, chopped on a platter and covered with some kind of yummy plum sauce (I think), delicious and I ate every bit of it. All told, 130 baht ($4.23) and lots of laughing. A smile goes a long way here. Sign language not so much. I try to motion that I want a little bit of rice (nit noy), not a lot, and that invariably results in them piling onto the plate a <i>little bit more.</i>&nbsp;I mean, who doesn't want a little bit more rice in Bangkok? That is, other than a fat farang?</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I had another bad experience with an ATM (first one was <a href="http://triplogged.blogspot.com/2012/01/last-day-of-my-thailandcambodia.html" target="_blank">here</a>). I wrote it up <a href="http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/585288-atm-problem/" target="_blank">here</a> on ThaiVisa.com, have not received satisfaction yet. Seems it's my word against theirs. I contacted my bank who will be filing a "dispute". Not sure what else to do except show up at their customer service desk and complain twice a week. I found out about the <a href="http://www.ocpb.go.th/" target="_blank">Consumer Protection Commission</a>--perhaps I'll register a complaint with them soon--this information&nbsp;from a very nice man, my new friend, Po. "O" pronounced halfway like a "U", and short. He is proprietor of a very nice coffee shop,&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cafe.etcetera" target="_blank">Cafe Et Cetera</a> a couple hundred meters north of the MRT Phahon Yothin in Chatuchak, I stop in when I'm near,&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sort of across the street from the Tesco Lotus. Both he and his wife are very gracious and helpful and speak excellent English, and he discussed this problem with me at length on several occasions. They have a pleasant, air-conditioned shop, very comfortable with good coffee and wi-fi,&nbsp;</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a couple hundred meters north of the MRT Phahon Yothin in Chatuchak.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's pretty rainy here sometimes. No real flooding yet in my area.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sxwRRMO9yw/UHeCifF-ehI/AAAAAAAAExU/ZRvLr7XOXFw/s1600/Rainy+Monday+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7sxwRRMO9yw/UHeCifF-ehI/AAAAAAAAExU/ZRvLr7XOXFw/s640/Rainy+Monday+.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comChatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand13.8361545 100.563367613.774483 100.48406010000001 13.897825999999998 100.6426751tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-65120802918053912402012-07-29T11:24:00.002-07:002017-05-21T08:11:02.482-07:00Moving to ThailandI was laid off my job a few months back. I would have liked to continue working a couple more years to fund my 401k a while longer, but that's not going to happen. Unemployment checks have been rolling in but I suppose I'd prefer to be working. &nbsp;Hiring is scarce for what I do anymore, I seem to be a dinosaur. So! On to something else.<br /><br />I've thought about teaching English for a long time. It would be a drastic departure from what I've done for decades, and I think it will be generally a welcome change. I've always liked learning about the origins of words, I enjoy helping people learn, and it was pointed out to me the other day by a friend that I am too nice to be a business entrepreneur. I think it would be good for me to be on my feet more. I can see myself getting excited, jumping around and talking all day, trying to make learning fun. Do I sound like Principal Skinner? I did a little research and decided to go to Bangkok to attend a <a href="http://www.teflteachthai.com/" target="_blank">TEFL course</a>. It was a surprisingly easy decision to move away from my home country for the first time. Is this better or worse than the <a href="http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/celta/index.html" target="_blank">CELTA</a> or the others? I don't know, I didn't research it that much. There's a huge amount written about such things on a number of blogs, forums and websites, but frankly, I just picked this one because it's near the center of things and is the only one that does not take things at a breakneck pace. I hate to be stressed. This one seems to do an adequate amount of work getting you prepared, and it takes 6 weeks to do it rather than the 3 or 4 weeks every other places require. The price didn't seem out of line. There were enough good reviews about the course (and few enough bad ones), it's been in business long enough, so it seemed about as good as any. It may seem a rather lackadaisical approach to choosing a course, but there's a ton of them out there and after a while I simply got tired of shopping. The school seems to know what Thai employers want, they helped me to get a visa, so it's away we go. Bought a one-way airfare (!) and got an international drivers license, trying to get my ducks in a row.&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white;">I'll probably stay at a furnished apartment called the Poonchock Mansion, or</span><span style="background-color: white;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.pmansion.com/" target="_blank">PMansion</a><span style="background-color: white;">. It's not expensive, is close to the TEFL course, and does not require a long lease. No pool, but supposed to have a self-contained kitchen which I will probably make use of.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">I've looked at a lot of possible places to teach English. There are openings worldwide thanks to English being the language of commerce and diplomacy, so I expect the only hindrance might be my age. I'm definitely too old for some places. According to most accounts, Thailand is at the bottom of the pay scale, but is the most pleasant place to live. I have been there twice, so it's not totally new. It all added up to probably being the best option for me to get my footing living and working on a new continent. I'm a bit apprehensive about the whole thing and I'm looking for a smooth, easy transition into a new lifestyle that won't be too difficult. I'll take the course there, look for a job on the outskirts of Bangkok, and give it a year or so. The course will finish up towards the end of October, perhaps &nbsp;that's about the time the second term for most schools will begin, and I'll be able to walk into some sort of position fairly easily. I really have no idea about what age group I'd like to teach. I tend to think I would not be so good around children, but I really don't know. I hope I get a chance to student-teach several age groups during the course, and I've thought about just showing up to observe courses in schools to see what it's like. I don't even have a clear idea if I will like doing this work. I will try to approach it seriously and with the intention of being the best I can at the job, and try to find satisfaction and fulfillment in the experience.&nbsp;</span><br /><br />It's just waiting now. Not too bad, hanging out here at my place in Vancouver, Washington, biding my time. Actually it's less than a month away now. I've paid my last month's rent on this place, and am quite far along in the process of liquidating most everything I own. I really want to have the minimum amount of things to take with me, no sense in taking much. Things are cheap to buy again over there as I need them. I've decided to take two musical instruments with me, I hope I won't regret that. Otherwise, just my laptop bag and a couple of suitcases. I've had about 100 ads up on craigslist for 4 or 5 months now, trying to sell everything from my old pickup truck to miscellaneous small items for $1, $2, $5 or so. I hate yard sales, I truly do. This hasn't been too annoying, just have to keep renewing the ads, make appointments when people are interested in individual items and meet them at the door to sell it. It's what I imagine having a store is like. Now I don't have any living room furniture, sold my dinette, got rid of my bed, miscellaneous small appliances, etc. Really just a mattress on the floor, a folding chair and a pile of things that I don't care about anymore. People still call about this and that, but I have only 2 big-ticket items left, my pickup and a 2 year old front-loading washing machine. The rest of the stuff can go to the Goodwill as far as I care. I've almost tired of playing shop keeper. It's sometimes an odd feeling selling everything I own. I never had really very expensive things, but many are things I've had for decades. Less than a month, time to begin drastically reducing prices!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63tJG300lpI/WSGs_s5sYKI/AAAAAAAAKmM/Hnaorikr_7M0nZXq3kC9Ua_vtjK91pANgCLcB/s1600/Baggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63tJG300lpI/WSGs_s5sYKI/AAAAAAAAKmM/Hnaorikr_7M0nZXq3kC9Ua_vtjK91pANgCLcB/s640/Baggage.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I got it down to. The boxes were about $25 apiece at FedEx, and they were great.<br />I think this amount of excess luggage was $175 or thereabouts.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-84860069950322275632012-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:002013-07-25T01:59:16.329-07:0019. End of 2011/2012 Thailand/Cambodia VacationIt's the end of the line, and I'm feeling like it's time to go home. I don't have any new pics to post. My flight leaves about 6:00 AM tomorrow morning, so I need to leave the hotel about 2:00 AM to get there the recommended <i>three hours ahead.</i>&nbsp;If I get some pics later, I'll post them here when I get home.<br /><br />Since it's my last day I have this nagging feeling like I should bungy jump off the River Kwai bridge or something for good measure. Instead, stumbled around the resort like a zombie this morning. Thought about paying the 300 baht/hour ($10) to use the hotel's "business center" to check email....but just couldn't do it. So I caught the shuttle in to Central Plaza Mall and found a place that is 50 baht/hour.&nbsp;It's different than CentralWorld Mall, but seems just as big. It's the only place the shuttle goes to, this and two other malls. I know, I know, I could take a taxi somewhere. Well, I'll be happy if I never step foot in another one of these mega-malls.&nbsp;I've been wandering around this place for a couple hours, and will catch the shuttle back to the resort in about half hour, then not sure what I'm going to do. Feeling kind of low, maybe will try to take a nap. After the espresso I had that's probably not going to happen. Maybe go for a swim in the 30" deep pool. I just had an interesting experience in the mall restroom...I wasn't paying attention or couldn't quite tell which one I was supposed to be in for some reason and the cleanup ladies started laughing and pushed me out towards the men's room to great laughter--I guess I made their day.<br /><br />Was watching the weather last night and I saw the number "6" over the Seattle area. I think that's about 40 degrees or so. Cold but not too bad. I'll just wear all my long sleeve shirts.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">P.S.</span><br /><br />I ended up getting up at 3:00 AM, checking out and catching a cab to the airport to get there about 4:30 AM, no problem. FYI, always tell the taxi to turn the meter on. A typical thing will be for him to suggest you give him 500 baht and he pays the tolls. The tolls are only 75 baht total and the entire bill, including tolls, was about 380 baht. We're only talking about a difference of around $4, they really don't make that much money. If you're feeling generous I suppose it would be OK for a one time deal, like buying some birds and setting them loose, make you feel like you're doing a good deed or something. Others will yell at me for ruining the market and encouraging unscrupulous cabbies. Whatever you're feeling at the moment I suppose. That early and before my coffee I guess I'm a grumpy scrooge.<br /><br />I was fined 2,500 baht ($80) at the airport for overstaying my visa 5 days. I didn't get "in trouble" at the airport, they just sent me to the police desk and fined me 500 baht per day, took an extra 20 minutes. However, I understand that you can get in big trouble in the (highly unlikely) event you get asked to show your visa while out and about on your vacation. If the police find you to be overstaying your visa, your &nbsp;problems can include detainment and deportation. Several of the people who were waiting in line with me at the airport to pay fines to the police said their problem was they were in Thailand before and came back, ignorant of the fact that they needed to get a new visa. One lady was very vocal in her outrage. In my case the airline sold me a ticket for the amount of time I asked for with no mention of an overstay, so I thought everything was OK. It just didn't occur to me to think about it until I left.&nbsp;Visa is for 30 days, it was my responsibility to know that, so it's nobody's fault but mine.&nbsp;Do be careful about this and know where you stand.<br /><br />I took money out of an ATM the day before my last day. The machine did not return my card. It's the first time that ever happened to me anywhere. Fortunately, the ATM was at a bank that was open. They were able to retrieve my card in about half an hour. I don't know how long it would have taken to get my card back from a stand-alone machine. I have noticed that some machines simply need you to insert your card and then pull it back out again (or maybe it was just swipe it, can't remember). I cannot tell you where I saw them, or how many, only that I noticed there was at least one like that. That's the kind I'll be looking for from now on. If not that, then only where the bank is open.<br /><br />Yes, it felt cold in Seattle. Warmer a little in Portland. I'm home now, it's about noon and it feels 2:00 AM to me. I'll try to stay up to a normal bedtime, then take a pill to make sure I sleep hard a long time tonight to get a good start towards getting back on track. I told them at work I would probably take a sick day because of jet lag...but I'm actually feeling like I'd like to get back to work. Depending on how well I sleep tonight, I may go in tomorrow. It feels good to be home. My bed is just right...not too hard, not too soft.<br /><br />This trip was so much better than the last one. I feel I almost did it right this time. The only nagging thing is that I meant to go less places and spend more time at the beach. I didn't do that, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps I don't like the beach all that much after all. And there's some dissatisfaction about staying in any one place for too long, always having the feeling of wanting to go some place else.<br /><br />Vaguely speaking, driving in Thailand seems a lot like walking in a crowded airport. People generally move with traffic rules, but great variance is allowed and there are no markings. The drivers I rode with all considered roadway markings completely optional. You just point your nose in the direction you want to go and ease your way into traffic without being belligerent. On the ride home I was struck by how obsessed with order, safety and cleanliness we are in comparison. Learning to drive over there would be a real learning experience for me, not sure if I would ever be up for it.<br /><br /><br />Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-43656563158230620582012-01-08T23:34:00.000-08:002012-07-29T11:27:34.695-07:0018. AyutthayaI took the hotel shuttle out to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CentralWorld" target="_blank">CentralWorld</a> mall again in downtown Bangkok, looking for something to do. I was told it's the largest mall in Asia, but it's not even in the top 10 on this list. Plenty of things to buy here. I may go up to the 7th floor and visit the food court and see if I'm up for a pepperoni pizza. I'm the only passenger on all the times I've taken this shuttle. I think this hotel is mainly for big weddings and corporate exhibitions. That's all I see anyway, I appear to be one of the few "tourists".<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhEjtfGEsc/Twqqu1n-elI/AAAAAAAAETA/tn9UY9ysGAU/s1600/IMG_2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDhEjtfGEsc/Twqqu1n-elI/AAAAAAAAETA/tn9UY9ysGAU/s320/IMG_2026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All for me</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZctXowsBoRE/TwqqnGZ8-kI/AAAAAAAAES4/7ofOZRVPhSI/s1600/IMG_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZctXowsBoRE/TwqqnGZ8-kI/AAAAAAAAES4/7ofOZRVPhSI/s320/IMG_2025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm really not comfortable with this level of luxury.<br />It's little guest houses for me from now on.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I went to&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_(city)" target="_blank">Ayuttaya</a>&nbsp;yesterday, and it was&nbsp;rather long trip out to&nbsp;the old capital of Thailand.&nbsp;I'd like to report that it was a good trip, but I contracted something which made my visit very unpleasant. There are plenty of temples there, it's an entire city of ruins to visit, and I was disappointed that I had to cut it short after visiting only three.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwniZZkkRV0/Twqfzgqqm2I/AAAAAAAAEOg/N4NsNMKSrJs/s1600/IMG_1984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwniZZkkRV0/Twqfzgqqm2I/AAAAAAAAEOg/N4NsNMKSrJs/s320/IMG_1984.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This old pagoda in Ayutthaya is now the center of a traffic circle</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I met a new friend here (friend of a friend) by the name of Boy. Most Thais have a nickname given, and I asked him what his nickname means. He said it's just the English name for a male child. That's what his parents chose. He's proprietor of a hardware store at the moment, and happy to be a lifelong resident of Ayuttaya. &nbsp;It was very interesting talking with him about all sorts of things from business and the economy to culture and history of Thailand and the region in general. I said I want a nickname too, and was promptly dubbed Yak. It means "Giant" (but also ironically invoking some of the sounds I was making during the day due to my ailment).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDxHzBRHPVs/TwqgEMTskqI/AAAAAAAAEOo/SnamsQ5A0NI/s1600/IMG_1985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDxHzBRHPVs/TwqgEMTskqI/AAAAAAAAEOo/SnamsQ5A0NI/s320/IMG_1985.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boy, my gracious guide for the day</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I feel very fortunate Boy took time from his busy schedule to be my guide for as long as I could take it. I'm glad he started with some of the most impressive temples. There were some huge statues of Buddha which started the tour. The biggest ones were in pretty good shape. Just look at the size of this reclining one.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozpAPvm55gY/TwqpCBF5hrI/AAAAAAAAESA/Qpknj1Y_GPY/s1600/IMG_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozpAPvm55gY/TwqpCBF5hrI/AAAAAAAAESA/Qpknj1Y_GPY/s320/IMG_2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lti0hzxM-Pk/TwqpYG2N8NI/AAAAAAAAESI/WA0QgfpCzG8/s1600/IMG_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lti0hzxM-Pk/TwqpYG2N8NI/AAAAAAAAESI/WA0QgfpCzG8/s320/IMG_2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We had to wind it up with a visit to this scary-big gold one. One finger was way bigger than a person. I think it looked so big because it was enclosed in a room. It once was outdoors, and was enclosed later.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2kCRh2swu2E/TwqqZgRVxCI/AAAAAAAAESs/-nTigOIHQlo/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2kCRh2swu2E/TwqqZgRVxCI/AAAAAAAAESs/-nTigOIHQlo/s320/IMG_2024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOUV3p5ian4/TwqqJQ2l20I/AAAAAAAAESg/XRpyKKJSCWk/s1600/IMG_2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UOUV3p5ian4/TwqqJQ2l20I/AAAAAAAAESg/XRpyKKJSCWk/s320/IMG_2018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ODheoMu5pI/TwqqZrrgPZI/AAAAAAAAESo/9OcU2nY1NoU/s1600/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ODheoMu5pI/TwqqZrrgPZI/AAAAAAAAESo/9OcU2nY1NoU/s320/IMG_2020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very surprised at the size of this Buddha</td></tr></tbody></table>Boy said this third temple survived because it was where the Burmese settled after they sacked the city, so they didn't destroy it. I need to check my facts on this because I'm getting the feeling they are getting jumbled, but I believe he said this one is older than many of the temples of Ayutthaya, over 500 years old.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0vOxe0BMdc/TwqngxUD_II/AAAAAAAAERY/NfL4qCQdUgE/s1600/IMG_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0vOxe0BMdc/TwqngxUD_II/AAAAAAAAERY/NfL4qCQdUgE/s320/IMG_2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GGwj2JbjMw/TwqoSbJ4rEI/AAAAAAAAERo/i5vv5idogpE/s1600/IMG_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8GGwj2JbjMw/TwqoSbJ4rEI/AAAAAAAAERo/i5vv5idogpE/s320/IMG_2009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtO7Co0Hy48/TwqooCdawqI/AAAAAAAAERw/FeEVR5q_Tug/s1600/IMG_2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtO7Co0Hy48/TwqooCdawqI/AAAAAAAAERw/FeEVR5q_Tug/s320/IMG_2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDp1bg54MQs/Twqot8tJKhI/AAAAAAAAER4/9NGz2mC3Lio/s1600/IMG_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDp1bg54MQs/Twqot8tJKhI/AAAAAAAAER4/9NGz2mC3Lio/s320/IMG_2011.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very beautiful ceiling</td></tr></tbody></table><br />There are so many ruins to visit in this city. Just driving around you will see extremely old pagodas right next door to businesses and neighborhoods--easy to think nothing of it if it's part of your life. There are several structures you will notice leaning quite badly. Boy explained this is due to damage from the flood waters which began to recede only last month. The entire area of Ayutthaya was flooded, in places 10 meters deep. It's hard to believe, traveling around the city and seeing the water line left on buildings, imagining what it must have been like for everything miles around to be flooded in at least waist deep water for months. The soft foundation stones of some of the structures eventually began to dissolve.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVnq7ooPrpc/TwqmGSk7pnI/AAAAAAAAERA/MBSZIVZK8sg/s1600/IMG_2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tVnq7ooPrpc/TwqmGSk7pnI/AAAAAAAAERA/MBSZIVZK8sg/s320/IMG_2004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvDUAwXq4_Y/TwqmJ0J--JI/AAAAAAAAERI/N-fU_gySHTk/s1600/IMG_2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wvDUAwXq4_Y/TwqmJ0J--JI/AAAAAAAAERI/N-fU_gySHTk/s320/IMG_2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gn6I2M2H98/TwqgyItuFaI/AAAAAAAAEOw/LTtWRgXNjmc/s1600/IMG_1986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gn6I2M2H98/TwqgyItuFaI/AAAAAAAAEOw/LTtWRgXNjmc/s320/IMG_1986.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jR4JkzmYADs/Twqg8ZPZNNI/AAAAAAAAEPA/hL0dnNKeO8c/s1600/IMG_1987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jR4JkzmYADs/Twqg8ZPZNNI/AAAAAAAAEPA/hL0dnNKeO8c/s320/IMG_1987.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zgez-R5_7ZU/Twqg371Ft3I/AAAAAAAAEO4/Q1gklrqkV-U/s1600/IMG_1988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zgez-R5_7ZU/Twqg371Ft3I/AAAAAAAAEO4/Q1gklrqkV-U/s320/IMG_1988.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5smdbZrNyk/TwqhtMG7rTI/AAAAAAAAEPY/82P1w-FfkIk/s1600/IMG_1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5smdbZrNyk/TwqhtMG7rTI/AAAAAAAAEPY/82P1w-FfkIk/s320/IMG_1989.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46FN2cjRkG0/Twqhl5O0y5I/AAAAAAAAEPQ/fY8srgI-bNk/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-46FN2cjRkG0/Twqhl5O0y5I/AAAAAAAAEPQ/fY8srgI-bNk/s320/IMG_1990.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIzfwwP-svs/Twqhka9BZPI/AAAAAAAAEPI/RO8uqFQqLT8/s1600/IMG_1991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NIzfwwP-svs/Twqhka9BZPI/AAAAAAAAEPI/RO8uqFQqLT8/s320/IMG_1991.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the image I most often see in association with the name Ayutthaya.<br />Lots of tourists taking pics with it while hamming it up&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_B5WKLeXomI/Twqibp0AOUI/AAAAAAAAEPg/jJzqtevpFcA/s1600/IMG_1992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_B5WKLeXomI/Twqibp0AOUI/AAAAAAAAEPg/jJzqtevpFcA/s320/IMG_1992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KrezvmzEyEo/Twqidp9ciPI/AAAAAAAAEPo/KsQGxjpBVKM/s1600/IMG_1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KrezvmzEyEo/Twqidp9ciPI/AAAAAAAAEPo/KsQGxjpBVKM/s320/IMG_1993.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qGOKHBXZGBE/Twqip2VE-8I/AAAAAAAAEPw/x_gJxv_HNNw/s1600/IMG_1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qGOKHBXZGBE/Twqip2VE-8I/AAAAAAAAEPw/x_gJxv_HNNw/s320/IMG_1994.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nT2xiwhSGjQ/TwqjHw7zmdI/AAAAAAAAEP4/xMXdoDy02qk/s1600/IMG_1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nT2xiwhSGjQ/TwqjHw7zmdI/AAAAAAAAEP4/xMXdoDy02qk/s320/IMG_1995.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8sK3nsY7Vg/TwqjQeRipiI/AAAAAAAAEQA/YjfbvWMjQzE/s1600/IMG_1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8sK3nsY7Vg/TwqjQeRipiI/AAAAAAAAEQA/YjfbvWMjQzE/s320/IMG_1996.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LNqjsEeEcUQ/TwqkFPy1gwI/AAAAAAAAEQI/pJwfdzuyUnU/s1600/IMG_1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LNqjsEeEcUQ/TwqkFPy1gwI/AAAAAAAAEQI/pJwfdzuyUnU/s320/IMG_1997.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dA1u5oh9CLk/TwqkJ9u3HfI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/Ql6dH2K0bOk/s1600/IMG_1998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dA1u5oh9CLk/TwqkJ9u3HfI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/Ql6dH2K0bOk/s320/IMG_1998.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TftgLmE1ikw/Twqk6q9gxyI/AAAAAAAAEQg/Ad_g_qr1xcg/s1600/IMG_2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TftgLmE1ikw/Twqk6q9gxyI/AAAAAAAAEQg/Ad_g_qr1xcg/s320/IMG_2000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xpGxELxdMQ/TwqlAwOGb3I/AAAAAAAAEQs/pRqE4ag2RCU/s1600/IMG_2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xpGxELxdMQ/TwqlAwOGb3I/AAAAAAAAEQs/pRqE4ag2RCU/s320/IMG_2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DS6NqP4Mclk/TwqlAMElRbI/AAAAAAAAEQo/asV_7fO33M8/s1600/IMG_2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DS6NqP4Mclk/TwqlAMElRbI/AAAAAAAAEQo/asV_7fO33M8/s320/IMG_2002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpP_gtn9HzQ/TwqlrX3iyhI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/NKa1AWy6ems/s1600/IMG_2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpP_gtn9HzQ/TwqlrX3iyhI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/NKa1AWy6ems/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />We took a break from seeing temples and went out to eat at a nice restaurant on a barge tied up to a dock. There was a big barge being pulled up or down the river every 15 minutes or so. The food was wonderful and there was a pleasant breeze that cooled things down nicely. I tried a little of the food but couldn't keep it down, so had to be a spectator for the rest of the meal. There's some yummy looking fish in my hotel fridge, I'll try a little when I get back tonight.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jX_B-d5-v7E/TwqpqCzUq7I/AAAAAAAAESQ/DUD3SOQLLVo/s1600/IMG_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jX_B-d5-v7E/TwqpqCzUq7I/AAAAAAAAESQ/DUD3SOQLLVo/s320/IMG_2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Y7dbzmfnYc/TwqpqZ051bI/AAAAAAAAESU/Jsq7CW_1RfU/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Y7dbzmfnYc/TwqpqZ051bI/AAAAAAAAESU/Jsq7CW_1RfU/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />There is a special kind of tuktuk in Ayuttaya that I have seen nowhere else in Thailand. Boy explained that they are all very old and they keep them on the road, some looking brand new and others looking every bit their age. I'll have to ask him why they are in Ayutthaya exclusively.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--2WLIcu3lzQ/TwqnbK7DKcI/AAAAAAAAERQ/6PxKEroBEGk/s1600/IMG_2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--2WLIcu3lzQ/TwqnbK7DKcI/AAAAAAAAERQ/6PxKEroBEGk/s320/IMG_2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />One thing was very striking as I take the shuttle out is the failed 80 billion baht&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok_Elevated_Road_and_Train_System" target="_blank">Hopewell Project</a>. It's an amazing amount of waste, over one thousand concrete pillars the majority being sound. It has been proposed to use it as an extension of the Skytrain line, but the people I've asked don't think it will happen.<br /><br />Well, this internet cafe has very uncomfortable chairs so I'm out of here.Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-54420478834213098082012-01-06T21:43:00.000-08:002012-05-02T22:35:30.099-07:0017. Return to Rangsit - Last Week In ThailandSince the train trip out east sucked so badly I decided to take a bus back to Bangkok. It was the best bus I ever rode anytime, anywhere, with comfortable seats and a bathroom in the back. Our flight crew consisted of two drivers and a stewardess. That's right, and she wore the cutest little hat.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ5vWnt6VRc/TwfRwZzt3rI/AAAAAAAAEK8/KT1BmsK8sIg/s1600/IMG_1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ5vWnt6VRc/TwfRwZzt3rI/AAAAAAAAEK8/KT1BmsK8sIg/s320/IMG_1950.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The six hour trip included lunch and two snacks, distributed by a stewardess</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uz-X4AOSpGo/TwfRyCH2nbI/AAAAAAAAELE/fIYi7bPIce0/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uz-X4AOSpGo/TwfRyCH2nbI/AAAAAAAAELE/fIYi7bPIce0/s320/IMG_1939.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a VIP...check....we did have some movies in Thai, but no one sang karaoke...<br />comfortable seats, check...I think that last symbol means "NO DURIAN"--<i><b>thank Buddha!</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I thought I'd go back to Rangsit because I just couldn't see staying an entire week in the middle of Bangkok again, but I want to do some things there. This hotel looked good on paper. I found a pretty good deal online and they are a fancy outfit.&nbsp;They told me the hotel is only a short distance away, but it was right about 5:00 PM. I&nbsp;hopped in a taxi as soon as I got to the bus station.&nbsp;What I didn't realize is that the hotel is a resort and an island that is rather hard to get to. It sits alongside a major expressway and inbetween two turnarounds that are about 4 KM apart (I'm not going to try and explain it any better than that).&nbsp;I think I could have have walked there quicker than the taxi. It took about an hour moving most of the time at a crawl. When we eventually caught sight of the hotel in the distance, the taxi driver tapped his fuel gauge and smiled at me: we were running on fumes. We made it there OK though, I hope he didn't run out of gas before he got to a station. Upon check-in I found that the online booking didn't take, and I had to go pay the three bucks to check my email and print out the itinerary and take it back to the front desk. Then everything went smoothly. Got to my room, dumped my stuff, and went back downstairs looking for a stiff drink. There is a very, very fancy karaoke bar here, I've never seen anything like it. Maybe I'll drink too much tonight and show them how it's done. Well, I ordered a bourbon and it came on the rocks. Hardly enough booze in it to wet the ice cubes. I smiled and told him to make it double, and it finally looked like something I could drink. Two minutes later I asked for the check. It was 500 baht. That's $15.77. Promptly went out the front door, caught a taxi and went to the 7-11. Bought a bottle of Black Label, 3 bottles of soda, a bag of ice and some ibuprofen for about 1200 baht. The rest of the night went rather well.<br /><br />The only way out of this complex is to take a taxi or ride the shuttle--it's free, but it's a long drive. Well, that's the worst thing about it--everything else is OK: very posh with the cloth napkins, lady in a red dress singing to a grand piano on the lobby, tennis courts, driving range, big pool...I'll try to get used to my first world problems. I took a tour of the grounds this morning. It's extensive to the point of having their own outdoor concert stage. Today it is the site of a big heavy equipment show or something, lots of earth movers on display by Kobelco.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KG3Gmme-m6M/TwfR1kNOBsI/AAAAAAAAELU/_pMi14Ek4DY/s1600/IMG_1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KG3Gmme-m6M/TwfR1kNOBsI/AAAAAAAAELU/_pMi14Ek4DY/s320/IMG_1951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Five nights here...hmm...what to do? Today I'm spending a few hours at a big mall. My big fancy hotel wants to charge me three bucks an hour to use their internet so I'm here at an internet cafe for a while. Tomorrow I'll go spend half a day or so at Ayutthaya...but then what? Heavy drinking and sunburn at the pool?<br /><div><br /></div><div>My flight sure leaves early in the morning on Wed. Jan 11, 5:55 AM. They say I need to be there 3 hours ahead of time for an international flight....that's 3:00 AM. Is that <i>really necessary?</i> I suppose there might be delays and whatever. I have three days left here (not including today, it's already almost 1:00 PM). Anyone have any ideas what I should do during that time? Keep it clean.<br /><br />OK, nobody had a single suggestion, not even a dirty one. That must mean it's only me here.<br /><br />I stayed around the hotel most of the day, went swimming, and never went to karaoke. Probably for the best. Later in the evening went to a "food court" called the FoodLoft. It was really something, nothing like any food court I've ever been to before. You enter through an entrance like a turnstile, and exit through a cashier. At the entrance you are issued a big card that has 1,000 baht credit on it. Then you browse through about 20 different kiosks that present specialized food. You make your order, hand over your card and they charge it. Food is brought to your table. I sampled a lot of things all at the same time: Korean pizza, french fries, Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, lasagna....I can't remember what else. The area you go to eat is like a night club, upscale and seductively lit with a performing group. It was a very nice place to hang out. I think it's a great idea, would be nice to see something like this back home. I took a few pics, but was informed that it was not allowed, so I just post the ones I got away with.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCprPH5faGw/Twqeb2OaexI/AAAAAAAAENw/KkZuWWvJKlY/s1600/IMG_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCprPH5faGw/Twqeb2OaexI/AAAAAAAAENw/KkZuWWvJKlY/s320/IMG_1972.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really big card that has the credits on it</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz-NVGfmcb8/Twqedgs05rI/AAAAAAAAEN4/Z4F7m5WCvCw/s1600/IMG_1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz-NVGfmcb8/Twqedgs05rI/AAAAAAAAEN4/Z4F7m5WCvCw/s320/IMG_1966.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swanky nightclub-like eating area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSDJs-emQ_k/TwqfFul_YqI/AAAAAAAAEOA/w3ks2P72xB4/s1600/IMG_1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSDJs-emQ_k/TwqfFul_YqI/AAAAAAAAEOA/w3ks2P72xB4/s320/IMG_1973.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical kiosk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU8zMNnLChU/TwqfV0mG0KI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/E6xXasQlgU0/s1600/IMG_1975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU8zMNnLChU/TwqfV0mG0KI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/E6xXasQlgU0/s320/IMG_1975.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another kiosk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzZ-9lajZZ0/TwqfiRPniDI/AAAAAAAAEOY/2zjfByQAZIQ/s1600/IMG_1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzZ-9lajZZ0/TwqfiRPniDI/AAAAAAAAEOY/2zjfByQAZIQ/s320/IMG_1976.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fru-fru drink. It was yummy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-76066208592977707942012-01-04T02:43:00.000-08:002012-07-29T11:31:18.379-07:0016. Midnight Train to SurinOne thing I wanted to do this trip was travel out to northeastern Thailand, an area known as Isaan. All I've been to in Thailand has been cities, and wanted to see some of the countryside. Well, I haven't been seeing a lot of countryside, just hotels. All towns here are noisy about the same. That's the thing that really gets to me more than almost anything here, the acceptable noise level. Home in Vancouver, Washington it is a graveyard compared to here. Almost anywhere here. I guess you get to experience the silence and beauty of the countryside if you buy a house out there, or know someone who lives out there you can stay with. This post will be covering the entire trip to Surin and Buriram. I am spending three nights in Surin, then it's back to Bangkok until I go home.<br /><br />I spent the four days at the Sihanoukville beach, and about two hours at Jomtien beach and that's all. I have been relaxing more, but I wasn't really so crazy about the beaches all that much, there's only so much sitting around and staring at them that I can take. I suppose if I were more active I'd be snorkeling or scubing, or trying to sail or something.<br /><br />I thought about traveling to Surin, Thailand when I left Siem Reap, Cambodia because it is almost straight north about a three hour drive, but I was all tuckered out and took the easy flight to the coast to recuperate. It would have been quite an adventure, but I wasn't up to it (you apparently go through Pol Pot's old stronghold). What I did a few days ago was catch the northeast train line from Bangkok because I heard the Thai train system is comfortable and reliable. It seemed like a good plan at the time: take a night train and sleep all night, roll into town rested and hit the ground running. What I rode was not the Thai train system I heard about. This was slow, old and creaky and late. While cheap, it was uncomfortable as hell. I'd hoped to book a sleeper car on a quiet, comfortable, modern train, but due to a glitch in online booking (thank you very much, <i>Verified by Visa!</i>) I was unable to book the sleeper when I tried. They were sold out when I eventually was able to go to the train station in person for the ticket--not that a sleeper would have helped much. I'm certain I could not have slept a wink, as noisy and bumpy as this train was.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLnmV3S2xio/TwUO9NRtWxI/AAAAAAAAEH4/c7j_m9SMUZA/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLnmV3S2xio/TwUO9NRtWxI/AAAAAAAAEH4/c7j_m9SMUZA/s320/IMG_1889.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh no, this is not going to be good...</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I got the best seat I could buy, one step down from the sleeper section. The rest of the seats were wood benches like church pews, but most people were sleeping. I don't know how they did it.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8vLzFMpAiJ4/TwUPKygInVI/AAAAAAAAEII/t9reOuULfjw/s1600/IMG_1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8vLzFMpAiJ4/TwUPKygInVI/AAAAAAAAEII/t9reOuULfjw/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I figured out the seats swiveled around 180 degrees, it helped some.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The train left the station at about 11:40 PM. All the windows were open on all the cars--it was like driving down an old bumpy dirt road in a beat up '56 Chevy pickup with the windows down. Few Thais seemed to know how to raise the windows: women found it almost impossible, since you needed some upper-body strength to make it happen. They had shutters you had to raise up, but then you had to know this trick to get them to stay up by fiddling with the bottom with one hand while holding the thing up with the other hand. Not hard to figure out, but no one seemed to think of asking the ticket masters to help with it. I ended up raising people's shutters in my car when it seemed like they wanted them up but didn't know how to do it, women with babies mostly.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zi7Pg_HLTPY/TwUP_DLoAEI/AAAAAAAAEI4/9g1veURP_qY/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zi7Pg_HLTPY/TwUP_DLoAEI/AAAAAAAAEI4/9g1veURP_qY/s320/IMG_1911.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a choice of shutters, or glass windows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nYrVC7UOiBM/TwUOQVTO_II/AAAAAAAAEHo/o5fCoJikDUY/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nYrVC7UOiBM/TwUOQVTO_II/AAAAAAAAEHo/o5fCoJikDUY/s320/IMG_1887.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two windows down at night, one stuck there partly open</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Moving from car to car was an experience because it was all open to the elements, and this train was jumping around all over the track. Fall off and nobody hears from you again, sort of scary.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOVO0PxwShtFW9UCq1tKvTECJA9pEM7RPj5BQNzKgUzsodlL3bKGCABH81ta8oyOMRhr6L_PoHcSUE-B1xBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><br />Nobody had any chickens or goats on the train, it wasn't that bad, but it was over two hours late. There were at least five times where we had to diverge onto other tracks to let other red-eyes past. This took us up to 13 hours I think, the whole time lurching, clacking, creaking, and roaring like a tornado when going over a bridge. I tried to sleep, could not even a little bit. The only nice part was watching the sun rise over rural Thailand, revealing some very nice clouds turning red and yellow over rice fields.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQVLEQrYU98/TwUPEDEsVcI/AAAAAAAAEIA/IkK026yaYVs/s1600/IMG_1901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kQVLEQrYU98/TwUPEDEsVcI/AAAAAAAAEIA/IkK026yaYVs/s320/IMG_1901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uF8a-BDva9M/TwUPh_PlhHI/AAAAAAAAEIY/NYA3vZljWgU/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uF8a-BDva9M/TwUPh_PlhHI/AAAAAAAAEIY/NYA3vZljWgU/s320/IMG_1903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zXngXrcehxo/TwUPX0Sa0_I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/-fnk1fg20Q8/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zXngXrcehxo/TwUPX0Sa0_I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/-fnk1fg20Q8/s320/IMG_1904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pUSMWQzQ74/TwUPq2LCMEI/AAAAAAAAEIg/twAifB4nUTc/s1600/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pUSMWQzQ74/TwUPq2LCMEI/AAAAAAAAEIg/twAifB4nUTc/s320/IMG_1905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hW_X074qw8E/TwUPwsfOzyI/AAAAAAAAEIo/tr6lvPzHDCA/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hW_X074qw8E/TwUPwsfOzyI/AAAAAAAAEIo/tr6lvPzHDCA/s320/IMG_1908.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPr2d5Pj8EQ/TwUP0MTZcMI/AAAAAAAAEIw/ZHJ8j0P20PI/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPr2d5Pj8EQ/TwUP0MTZcMI/AAAAAAAAEIw/ZHJ8j0P20PI/s320/IMG_1909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />If I'd known the trip would be like this, I'd have booked it during the day so I could see the countryside, and not completely mess up my sleep cycle by taking a red-eye. Staying up all night like that tends to affect me for days afterward, and sure enough. Well, live and learn from my mistakes. My return to Bangkok from here will be travel&nbsp;<i>by luxury bus. </i>No more Thai trains for me (would other lines be better I wonder?), and no damn mini-vans either! I made sure to book one of those big luxury liner buses.&nbsp;"They tell me" it's about a five hour trip to Bangkok on one of those. They look good, hope the shocks are new. I tried to book airfare on something but the only company that flew out this way, Nok Air, suspended it's service recently.<br /><br />My hotel here in Surin is the Majestic. I read it's the newest hotel, situated in the bus station mall. It's OK, 900 baht and that includes a pretty good breakfast. There seems to be a lot of farang here. I see half dozen or so here in this hotel, but none of them want to speak with me. I see them around town a bit, so I guess some expats like this place. Took a walk last night and saw some place that was sort of "expat central", I'll stop by there today and see what's going on. I like Surin, it's relatively quiet. There are the usual motor bikes everywhere. Taxis are scarce, but you can get one if you call some place and arrange to be picked up. There are some tuk tuks, but there are at least as many of the three wheeled human-powered bicycle taxis around. I tried talking to several, and they speak absolutely no English. I eventually did take a ride in one, and I'm way too big so it was not comfortable. The driver pretended to know what I was saying when I know he hadn't a clue, so I ended up in the wrong place and demanded more money. They're called sam law. I was surprised to find little info on the web about them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5hoXinD42g/TwUHxeWiNMI/AAAAAAAAEEU/5RuZMa6TaPY/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5hoXinD42g/TwUHxeWiNMI/AAAAAAAAEEU/5RuZMa6TaPY/s320/IMG_1948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I do remember the name for bathroom: hong nam. I finally memorized it after pantomiming urination at least two times in order to find one. No, I was not able to keep a straight face, and yes he instantly knew what I was talking about.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CS9FtkvY9z8/TwUH8v-UQCI/AAAAAAAAEEg/trnECvTD9O4/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CS9FtkvY9z8/TwUH8v-UQCI/AAAAAAAAEEg/trnECvTD9O4/s320/IMG_1947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsf8b4lUzAg/TwUHwoJUpRI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/frL8yhQ6gDA/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsf8b4lUzAg/TwUHwoJUpRI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/frL8yhQ6gDA/s320/IMG_1944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7oNRSyEhrR0/TwUHb9p1jeI/AAAAAAAAEEI/sC72IjUxHlI/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7oNRSyEhrR0/TwUHb9p1jeI/AAAAAAAAEEI/sC72IjUxHlI/s320/IMG_1943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciXuQiOgCiE/TwUGyzE6DNI/AAAAAAAAED4/7nIqG-0kuH0/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciXuQiOgCiE/TwUGyzE6DNI/AAAAAAAAED4/7nIqG-0kuH0/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-619ShX61kHs/TwUHLEbqXWI/AAAAAAAAEEA/vRKjAmbQLiY/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-619ShX61kHs/TwUHLEbqXWI/AAAAAAAAEEA/vRKjAmbQLiY/s320/IMG_1941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy6zB_QSYQs/TwUGhJJv3uI/AAAAAAAAEDw/Ptux6A3wBBs/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy6zB_QSYQs/TwUGhJJv3uI/AAAAAAAAEDw/Ptux6A3wBBs/s320/IMG_1940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHMf26hoY9U/TwUQT_5sWXI/AAAAAAAAEJA/XKVn72hf6n0/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHMf26hoY9U/TwUQT_5sWXI/AAAAAAAAEJA/XKVn72hf6n0/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1uIBax9EYrc/TwUIc8XAxmI/AAAAAAAAEEo/XbotmaV_Mno/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1uIBax9EYrc/TwUIc8XAxmI/AAAAAAAAEEo/XbotmaV_Mno/s320/IMG_1949.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And one more of the kind of utility bikes I see a lot of here. You know how much a front rack<br />for my hand-made Amsterdam bike cost? 200 freakin' dollars. For a front cargo rack.<br />This one looks like somebody made it. The rear one too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I went to vist <a href="http://www.surin.go.th/web_eng/web_eng/wat_burupharam.htm" target="_blank"><span class="st">Wat Burapharam</span></a>, a temple built for the king to visit. The patron monk (don't know what else to call him) was named Loungpu Dun, a monk who died about 80 years ago.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZWRMiVbm3U/TwURIp2EiII/AAAAAAAAEJY/sfyLMSgMLas/s1600/IMG_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZWRMiVbm3U/TwURIp2EiII/AAAAAAAAEJY/sfyLMSgMLas/s320/IMG_1915.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big temple in Surin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rycarQxIWs/TwURXeYLEXI/AAAAAAAAEJg/d-v8Rea_rQY/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rycarQxIWs/TwURXeYLEXI/AAAAAAAAEJg/d-v8Rea_rQY/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />I also made the trip to Buriram to see <a href="http://www.buriramexpats.com/buriram/" target="_blank">Wat Phanom Rung</a>, really because I'm running out of things to do here in Surin. It does seem there is growth here, but it's hardly the big apple. The one hour each way taxi ride to Buriram cost 1500 baht, and he made me pay for gas, about 300 baht I think. That's about $57 to have a look at a temple for about two hours. On the way, the taxi driver ran over a stray dog running across the very busy highway. He just kept on going, apologizing to me because I yelled at him to look out. I've been told life is cheap here. The temple was very nice, situated on a hill top and in better shape than any in Siem Reap. There were supposed to be views of Cambodia, but too many trees to see anything. Frankly, in hindsight, I kind of wished I'd have just looked at some pics online for free. However, it was a beautiful day atop this hill with a nice breeze going that helped cool things off.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJcVkHISbXc/TwUREGkRDhI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/FJJcfuEvV_o/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJcVkHISbXc/TwUREGkRDhI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/FJJcfuEvV_o/s320/IMG_1927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylBXZ_lvnaI/TwURxTIdgEI/AAAAAAAAEJo/becQKqfJFTQ/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylBXZ_lvnaI/TwURxTIdgEI/AAAAAAAAEJo/becQKqfJFTQ/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-PxvrSAQ88/TwUSaXlAB3I/AAAAAAAAEJw/iIxmD-bQtGg/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-PxvrSAQ88/TwUSaXlAB3I/AAAAAAAAEJw/iIxmD-bQtGg/s320/IMG_1930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Yac0xQO4fQ/TwUTdhHZ98I/AAAAAAAAEKI/828oMHzU18E/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Yac0xQO4fQ/TwUTdhHZ98I/AAAAAAAAEKI/828oMHzU18E/s320/IMG_1931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were the nicest ones of these...things....I ever saw, very well-preserved.<br />I think they're multi-headed snakes </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxHOHWbSAD4/TwUTUv1rqjI/AAAAAAAAEKA/xfIL8K2zzBk/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxHOHWbSAD4/TwUTUv1rqjI/AAAAAAAAEKA/xfIL8K2zzBk/s320/IMG_1932.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very similar to Wat Tom, the temple I visited after Angkor Wat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bwA66ZQ4Y8/TwUTRgD93cI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/YrhbLIfXoRs/s1600/IMG_1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bwA66ZQ4Y8/TwUTRgD93cI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/YrhbLIfXoRs/s320/IMG_1933.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guide said parts of this temple were taken by the United States at some point in time,<br />and only recently returned. He did not say what entity took them, or exactly how much&nbsp; was taken.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYywzGYWniY/TwUT8JgTVlI/AAAAAAAAEKY/e_FI_f50o7w/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYywzGYWniY/TwUT8JgTVlI/AAAAAAAAEKY/e_FI_f50o7w/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The clunky old computers at the Majestic Hotel in Surin would lock up hard when I tried to hook my camera up to them, so had to go out to a coffee shop across the street from the hotel that has internet. Much better computers, but still a very slow connection. At least they have pretty good espresso here.<br /><br />I went to the big local monster "hypermarket", <a href="http://www.bigc.co.th/en/about/bigc/" target="_blank">Big C Supercenter</a>. It's just like Walmart! Maybe I can find something interesting to do along the way. There was an area near the theater that had game machines of all sorts, each one of them making a horrible noise, and all together (about 50 of them) they blended together into a nightmarish swirling vortex of white noise. No one seemed to mind. It is another example of the difference in noise levels. Could I live here?<br /><br />I had a massage yesterday, but she didn't do it like the other ones I had in Bangkok. It was more just a kneading of the muscles. Maybe she thought I couldn't take the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_massage" target="_blank">real deal</a></i>. I'll have you know I have grown accustomed to the pain of Thai massage. Wow, when they find a knot they work at it relentlessly with an elbow, and it hurts. It's the next day when it feels better. I tried it again at another place the next day and it was different, but no better. It seems you just have to shop around and hopefully luck out. When you find one that suits you, it's best to tip him/her and keep coming back so you can continue to get used to each other...what I imagine having a regular hair dresser would be like.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23hoUTqMp0o/TwUTwLED7AI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/wGKPQOsrhQQ/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23hoUTqMp0o/TwUTwLED7AI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/wGKPQOsrhQQ/s320/IMG_1937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I catch the bus back to Bangkok today for the last time. It leaves at about 10:40 AM, and should arrive in BKK about 4:30 PM, barring eventualities. That's so much better than the train! These little trips haven't been too bad, I think I've been cranky about describing some of them. I'm glad to have seen so much of the country. There's 5 more nights, so I booked all that time at one hotel, again in the Rangsit area, though further west I think. It's called the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d305525-Reviews-Rama_Gardens_Hotel_Bangkok-Bangkok.html" target="_blank">Hotel Rama Gardens</a> and I booked it because it's sort of upscale and looks like a peaceful, relaxing place to spend my last week. No more traveling around for me, though I will take day trips out to various places I should not miss, for instance the old capital city of Thailand, <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Ayutthaya" target="_blank">Ayutthaya</a>. I might skip the floating market. Not sure what else to do around that area...any suggestions?Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-23966361810797579472012-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:44:20.198-07:0015. Temple in Bangkok, Mission Impossible, Seńor PicoI drank too much on New Years Eve, didn't get enough sleep and felt pretty crummy most of the net day. I feel a lot better today after getting 12 hours of sleep last night. No mosquitos in the room after asking room service to spray while I was out, I discovered where the heavy curtains are so sunlight doesn't wake me up, and everyone's finished partying...it felt great to catch up. Went to a suki yaki place across the street, I had the duck and it was really good. Ordered some for takeout too.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQHewoMmcEY/TwUI1TxcamI/AAAAAAAAEE4/94fLBmshjXM/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQHewoMmcEY/TwUI1TxcamI/AAAAAAAAEE4/94fLBmshjXM/s320/IMG_1827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked this scene, old Chinese grandfather clock next to wi-fi post</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2C-jrFU_HuI/TwUJkEWqLMI/AAAAAAAAEFI/wRKcOnASqE8/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2C-jrFU_HuI/TwUJkEWqLMI/AAAAAAAAEFI/wRKcOnASqE8/s320/IMG_1828.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had duck, so I got me some</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This morning I stumbled out of the hotel and went to the little place around the corner to tank up on espresso again, and had three different kinds of fish, all of them dried. Well, wait, one kind looked dried,&nbsp;a little fish steak&nbsp;reconstituted in an extreme brine with vinegar and peppers. One of those was like an entire can of anchovies. I pinched it up over the rice and vegetables. The other kinds were grilled or smoked, very dry and tiny little bones. Very small river fish, made a chewy and yummy breakfast.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSzcvoHiZGg/TwUIuIwML8I/AAAAAAAAEEw/sn42TEZYFoY/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GSzcvoHiZGg/TwUIuIwML8I/AAAAAAAAEEw/sn42TEZYFoY/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saw this lovely orchid, growing like a weed amongst the<br />shrubbery near the jacuzzi on the 4th floor</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I got a neck and back massage yesterday from a place around the corner. It was really painful. She focused in on some knots I knew were there but it's been so long living with them that I don't think about it. I suppose I should go back today and let her work them over again one more time before I leave, sadist that she was, giggling at my groans. <br /><br />I understand it is good if you go to temple for the new year, so I went to Chinatown to find one and go see if I can figure out what you're supposed to do. Walked around for about half an hour looking at various items for sale, but it was extremely crowded, and sometimes rather difficult to squeeze my fat belly through the aisles. Later will go see Mission Impossible in the theatre at the biggest mall in Asia. I really don't like Tom Cruise, but I hear it is a really good BSU movie.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BV5mqIgoRFE/TwUJGgRPxLI/AAAAAAAAEFA/A41RwWA8QyA/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BV5mqIgoRFE/TwUJGgRPxLI/AAAAAAAAEFA/A41RwWA8QyA/s320/IMG_1831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the entrance to the Chinese style temple</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AIpCkJFHAM/TwUJprj08kI/AAAAAAAAEFY/MBgmg9kCZeA/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AIpCkJFHAM/TwUJprj08kI/AAAAAAAAEFY/MBgmg9kCZeA/s320/IMG_1837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making offerings and asking for blessings for the new year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Twqa4Tzr9-c/TwUJobB15kI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/h-nTOWXCkZA/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Twqa4Tzr9-c/TwUJobB15kI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/h-nTOWXCkZA/s320/IMG_1838.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to wind my way through the shops which had utterly taken<br />over the sidewalks. Hardly any room at all--Adrian Monk would hate this place.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U_EQZ-QEn80/TwUJ0zSXtVI/AAAAAAAAEFg/LSr-GIpn9Jc/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U_EQZ-QEn80/TwUJ0zSXtVI/AAAAAAAAEFg/LSr-GIpn9Jc/s320/IMG_1839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of fun stuff for sale. My mom would love this place.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cca0pt2M3WU/TwUJ1tX5WvI/AAAAAAAAEFk/zEhXKPfJ3f0/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cca0pt2M3WU/TwUJ1tX5WvI/AAAAAAAAEFk/zEhXKPfJ3f0/s320/IMG_1840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....except it's hard to get through if you are larger than the average person</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n60BUKAJvfE/TwUKTA5pC0I/AAAAAAAAEFw/3wY_Sjdc1yI/s1600/IMG_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n60BUKAJvfE/TwUKTA5pC0I/AAAAAAAAEFw/3wY_Sjdc1yI/s320/IMG_1842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started to get a little claustrophobic</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4UNjNJFOyE/TwUKqopdDoI/AAAAAAAAEF4/Y5RuGsbS0K0/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4UNjNJFOyE/TwUKqopdDoI/AAAAAAAAEF4/Y5RuGsbS0K0/s320/IMG_1846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ONjhJLiXEJA/TwULVkWUBaI/AAAAAAAAEGA/CXJ1L7tPIhA/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ONjhJLiXEJA/TwULVkWUBaI/AAAAAAAAEGA/CXJ1L7tPIhA/s320/IMG_1848.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was there a sale or something? Or is it like this every day?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMNfTyUuVRE/TwULy_EhzMI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/w__yFqZ1s9M/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMNfTyUuVRE/TwULy_EhzMI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/w__yFqZ1s9M/s320/IMG_1849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I am told that Ayutthaya is very crowded with tourists just now. After the Chinese market, I had my fill of being jostled so I will wait until next weekend for that.<br /><br />I'll be leaving on a train to Surin after going out to dinner in Bangkok with most of the friends I made in Thailand. I was able to get them all together at the Seńor Pico Restaurant at the Rembrandt Hotel.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFk2oY9Y_Nw/TwUL9igQ8XI/AAAAAAAAEGY/-Pn1GCIoiK4/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFk2oY9Y_Nw/TwUL9igQ8XI/AAAAAAAAEGY/-Pn1GCIoiK4/s320/IMG_1854.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senor Pico is so happy I am here.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe3lFT0JTcY/TwUMafAi9tI/AAAAAAAAEGo/mzXgHsaNfYU/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe3lFT0JTcY/TwUMafAi9tI/AAAAAAAAEGo/mzXgHsaNfYU/s320/IMG_1857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thai style nachos...or is it the Thai version of Califonia style nachos?<br />Little&nbsp;hors d' oeuvres, each one perfectly arranged as if for a cocktail party for the King.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XTZq7ZQQzo/TwUNKBNYlVI/AAAAAAAAEG4/WfAkyFbg41s/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2XTZq7ZQQzo/TwUNKBNYlVI/AAAAAAAAEG4/WfAkyFbg41s/s320/IMG_1867.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friends Giuseppe (Italian) and Daniella (Romania), the lovebirds I met&nbsp;on the flight to<br />Phnom Penh. I swear, they are kissing all the time. I was so happy to see them again.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3k-2kocBL8/TwUNlvjAf2I/AAAAAAAAEHI/Bu12rWAjR0U/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3k-2kocBL8/TwUNlvjAf2I/AAAAAAAAEHI/Bu12rWAjR0U/s320/IMG_1868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty good time at Senor Pico's</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I wonder why Thais like Mexican food...there were three or four I remember seeing just walking or riding around. It must be from a California kind of Mexican food or something, because it's more like&nbsp;<i>cuisine</i>. The two Mexican restaurants I have eaten at in Bangkok have both been far and away the most expensive restaurants I've tried.&nbsp;I find the Mexican food I know and love most often with a line of workers at the window of a little storefront or taco truck, cheap and quick.&nbsp;The bartender was all decked out in Mexican garb, so I tried saying something in Spanish to him, but of course he didn't know what I was saying. We had a really big dinner, I had some margaritas, and I got the love birds and Moo to have tequila shots with me.<br /><br />Then it was off to the train station about 11:00 PM.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKKcQ1UmEYg/TwUNa1ZUJVI/AAAAAAAAEHA/11MV8yYmr4o/s1600/IMG_1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKKcQ1UmEYg/TwUNa1ZUJVI/AAAAAAAAEHA/11MV8yYmr4o/s320/IMG_1873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt like singin' a Johnny Cash song</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LGS0UL939M0/TwUOcSPDk0I/AAAAAAAAEHw/K0TyRCDZIs8/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LGS0UL939M0/TwUOcSPDk0I/AAAAAAAAEHw/K0TyRCDZIs8/s320/IMG_1885.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luggage goes up here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHmOloSRg0o/TwUOKz-fxxI/AAAAAAAAEHg/I3sFczsaYsk/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QHmOloSRg0o/TwUOKz-fxxI/AAAAAAAAEHg/I3sFczsaYsk/s320/IMG_1874.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3XDoyh_NLU/TwUM-8LfvhI/AAAAAAAAEGw/P_fNbHt6aOk/s1600/IMG_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3XDoyh_NLU/TwUM-8LfvhI/AAAAAAAAEGw/P_fNbHt6aOk/s320/IMG_1872.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VgMi79_keU/TwUN_Mo3IfI/AAAAAAAAEHY/tK4phU1nYGY/s1600/IMG_1876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VgMi79_keU/TwUN_Mo3IfI/AAAAAAAAEHY/tK4phU1nYGY/s320/IMG_1876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And away we go...</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-53730550940732637412011-12-30T19:58:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:42:31.145-07:0014. Bangkok again - Last day of the yearI arrived in Bangkok about 1:00 PM and proceeded to make my way to the hotel I booked. It was rather involved, had to switch two trains on the Sky Train, go down to the MRT (subway) and then make a 10 min. walk to my hotel. Really should have caught a moto for 20 or 30 baht rather than walk that last leg, but figured I needed the exercise. When I arrived at the hotel, I was hot and sweaty and my back was killing me.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaxRarLO0-4/Tv6FoMktzKI/AAAAAAAAECg/lGHzE10sdtE/s1600/IMG_1821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaxRarLO0-4/Tv6FoMktzKI/AAAAAAAAECg/lGHzE10sdtE/s320/IMG_1821.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty upscale hotel, with cloth napkins and everything</td></tr></tbody></table><div>I found it on <a href="http://www.agoda.com/" target="_blank">Agoda</a>, a place I've had pretty good luck with in the past. When I'm in the states, it's a little slow getting feedback, refunds and such, because they are in Bangkok (I think). I started to use services like Orbitz or Hotwire eventually because they have a toll-free number and it's nice to talk with someone at times. Anyway, I searched Agoda and found the Amari Atrium Bangkok Hotel for a very good price, about $60/night all told (did not choose breakfast included). It's rather fancy, and I suspect the price might be three times that if you walked in off the street, but I guess you can get pretty good last minute deals booking unsold units online right before a holiday. Very nice room, and the bed wasn't too hard. Very nice Jacuzzi here, that's appreciated. I just hung around the hotel, soaked in the hot tub for an hour and had a couple beers, went back to the room and took a nap.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jeab (pronounced Chee-ob) called me in the evening and informed me that she and two of her friends from college would pack me up and take me with them to a wine buffet in the evening. I have never been to one of these and didn't know how it worked. You pay one price and drink all the wine you want. I might have drank a lot more wine if I understood that. The girls talked to me part of the time in English to be nice, but the more they drank the more, faster and louder they talked in Thai. I just took it all in. Some really nice appetizers.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o2CbNpIGJ10/Tv6FX8z9b6I/AAAAAAAAEB4/uy5C-s1cwqw/s1600/IMG_1815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o2CbNpIGJ10/Tv6FX8z9b6I/AAAAAAAAEB4/uy5C-s1cwqw/s320/IMG_1815.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three very lovely and entertaining ladies: Moo, Tuk &amp; Jeab.<br />Jeab was by far the loudest.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Moo informed me that speaking English was, for her, a sobriety test. They understood all too well exactly what a wine buffet is. It was hilarious being ignored and listening to them. Afterwards I was deposited back to my hotel stone sober and proceeded to watch television until I fell asleep. I probably would have slept well, if not for a few pesky mosquitoes in the room. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I went looking for breakfast this morning in the hotel, seated myself at the bar and asked the tender to make me an espresso. It was 110 baht, but she gave me some free cookies, the sweetheart. I asked if I could get some coffee and a croissant or something over in the breakfast area, and she quoted me a price of 640 baht for all you can eat breakfast. Wow, that's about $21! I told her it's too much, and she instantly (and inexplicably) changed the price to 320 baht. I asked the front desk if they had internet computers, and I was directed to the "business center", a room where you could rent a computer for 300 baht/hour ($10). I thanked them all, finished my coffee and set out on a walk.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Right around the corner in an alley I found what I was looking for. It is a tiny little building just past the 7-11 (they are everywhere) selling espresso for 30 baht, extra shot for 5 more baht. Right behind it was a little stand that made pretty yummy thai food for 30 baht. Across the street was an internet gaming cafe, but they weren't open yet.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gfzs9tRrqmI/Tv6FmNsOjCI/AAAAAAAAECQ/EV4BoXwnH6I/s1600/IMG_1818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gfzs9tRrqmI/Tv6FmNsOjCI/AAAAAAAAECQ/EV4BoXwnH6I/s320/IMG_1818.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spent about an hour here tanking up on espresso and<br />waiting for the internet cafe across the street to open</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mTYyirvNe0/Tv6FcrNq1PI/AAAAAAAAECI/Xk49NG_MtnA/s1600/IMG_1816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3mTYyirvNe0/Tv6FcrNq1PI/AAAAAAAAECI/Xk49NG_MtnA/s320/IMG_1816.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It seemed to be a family run spot, auntie making flower<br />necklaces at the front, watching a young child</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2nN4Ct0Ouw/Tv6FbQKuqZI/AAAAAAAAECA/RYedk3BGVto/s1600/IMG_1817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2nN4Ct0Ouw/Tv6FbQKuqZI/AAAAAAAAECA/RYedk3BGVto/s320/IMG_1817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pretty yummy pork and greens with rice and my<br />third espresso, all for about 120 baht. Got a bag of ripe, juicy papaya later for 10 baht.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They told me the internet cafe across the street opens at 10:00 AM, but they opened late. It's a four day holiday here, kids were hanging around outside waiting for it to open so they could play games.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S84LHYC58ls/Tv6FwtmdPcI/AAAAAAAAECs/LPZ29n38Brw/s1600/IMG_1824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S84LHYC58ls/Tv6FwtmdPcI/AAAAAAAAECs/LPZ29n38Brw/s320/IMG_1824.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids playing games next to me. It's pretty noisy in here right now.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It a coin operated thing, never saw that before. A five-baht coin buys 30 minutes, so I guess the kids can play all day for next to nothing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1A4UHt66D0E/Tv6Fv5pKMfI/AAAAAAAAECo/nsfLIqIh8NU/s1600/IMG_1823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1A4UHt66D0E/Tv6Fv5pKMfI/AAAAAAAAECo/nsfLIqIh8NU/s320/IMG_1823.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I got 10 minutes for free</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I'm afraid I'm getting boring for you now, aren't I? There hasn't been any temples or museums or palaces for quite some time now, just boring little places. Sorry, just haven't been much interested in doing many exciting things lately. It seems all I want to do is walk around and take pics of everyday life, spend time talking to regular people and seeing how they live, try to imagine if I could live like that. I think if it was just me, I could live like the average Thai, though it would take me some time to acclimate to having much, much less.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just saw a guy sitting under a walkway drinking a bag of coke. It was a thin, clear plastic bag that stood up by itself, sort of, and a straw. Why don't we have that in the US? A little less to throw away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, the internet cafe has turned into a war zone, gamers everywhere putting body english on the mouse and shooting everything in sight. I suppose tonight I'll buy into the hotel's fancy party and countdown with the rest of the hotel people, or find something less expensive at a club somewhere. I probably should not spend New Year's Eve in Bangkok watching TV in my hotel room, eh? It's noon now, maybe go over and soak in the hot tub again, get a massage and take a nap, try to catch up on some sleep so I won't conk out too early tonight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-71023990801340585542011-12-28T21:06:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:38:26.688-07:0013. Hua Hin day 2 & 3I checked out of my hotel (guest house)&nbsp;this morning. That damn bed was the hardest one so far. The hotel was really over-priced for what was offered: slab of marble for a bed, no bedside light, no phone, no internet computers, wi-fi does not work, highly insulated comforter for the&nbsp;bed and that's all&nbsp;(had to put A/C on arctic so that I would not burn up under it), no breakfast, and no food offered within 2 miles before 10:00 am--all for the princely sum of 1,800 baht. <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Three blocks south I found a little place that has computers, sheets, includes breakfast, phone, bedside light, and still only 2 minutes walk from the beach for 900 baht. Just goes to show what you can find if you have a little time to look around. A weary traveler fresh in town, toting a backpack and craving a cold beer is not the best state to be shopping for a good deal on a place. This is...what...the third time it's happened? Oh well, I said I was not going to plan things out carefully this time. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">﻿</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I woke up before 7:00 AM this morning with an aching back, so I went out looking for coffee. Stumbling around in my flip flops about 3&nbsp;km on a&nbsp;circuitous route for about an hour hunting for some coffee&nbsp;put me about 1.5&nbsp;km south of the hotel in a residential area, still rather north of the center of town, but I eventually&nbsp;ran across the market. This is the most intense one I've seen so far with all manner of meats being butchered and just about anything else you want. I wound my way slowly through it, experiencing sensory overload before my coffee. I came out the opposite side on the west and was relieved to find a little coffee shop with delicious fresh coffee, two eggs, sausage, ham, toast &amp; strawberry jam. I tanked up on the coffee and, feeling strong, hit the market again. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8HuDiUuMM8/TvvxjQzB3PI/AAAAAAAAD9c/EERSMJaFviM/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8HuDiUuMM8/TvvxjQzB3PI/AAAAAAAAD9c/EERSMJaFviM/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little place had a nice breakfast for 50 baht and good coffee. That's more like it.<br />It's just a few paces south of the west entrance to the market. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ6aDkp3HH0/TvvxmxIKWCI/AAAAAAAAD9o/8hLjyzObjdU/s1600/IMG_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ6aDkp3HH0/TvvxmxIKWCI/AAAAAAAAD9o/8hLjyzObjdU/s320/IMG_1787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just everybody, buying everything. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hutc8gZPDlU/Tvvxd85wHzI/AAAAAAAAD9U/GrnNKVrr4lI/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hutc8gZPDlU/Tvvxd85wHzI/AAAAAAAAD9U/GrnNKVrr4lI/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZgSZmGRjyM/TvvxmtbenOI/AAAAAAAAD9k/eHduLjLakmk/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZgSZmGRjyM/TvvxmtbenOI/AAAAAAAAD9k/eHduLjLakmk/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDiLcwckCSc/TvvxrWE27qI/AAAAAAAAD90/taK2d9Uuqxs/s1600/IMG_1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDiLcwckCSc/TvvxrWE27qI/AAAAAAAAD90/taK2d9Uuqxs/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt50qAEGDjQ/TvvxvgHiI5I/AAAAAAAAD-A/YINAVk11LoQ/s1600/IMG_1795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt50qAEGDjQ/TvvxvgHiI5I/AAAAAAAAD-A/YINAVk11LoQ/s320/IMG_1795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGC_r3NwYg4/TvvxzGYf1bI/AAAAAAAAD-M/Vf8_Oi9Y1no/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uGC_r3NwYg4/TvvxzGYf1bI/AAAAAAAAD-M/Vf8_Oi9Y1no/s320/IMG_1796.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People knit in Thailand. I tried to tell her I knitted my first scarf.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufMDT3-aipM/Tvvx4OhdCLI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/1Hqmc1WrF0g/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufMDT3-aipM/Tvvx4OhdCLI/AAAAAAAAD-Y/1Hqmc1WrF0g/s320/IMG_1797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6JccGeLb98/Tvvx39-5YoI/AAAAAAAAD-U/E5rBEeKwY_k/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6JccGeLb98/Tvvx39-5YoI/AAAAAAAAD-U/E5rBEeKwY_k/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some areas were really packed, yet scooters were still winding their way through past the<br />shoppers. They were delivering stuff, just amazing they are allowed to ride them in here.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KE9MnOsrNg/Tvvx7mlGdHI/AAAAAAAAD-k/2DdpEGRKhho/s1600/IMG_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KE9MnOsrNg/Tvvx7mlGdHI/AAAAAAAAD-k/2DdpEGRKhho/s320/IMG_1800.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scooters were threading their way through here too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PK0cMu_KmHQ/Tvvx_9K3lYI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZD3aF8u-hiY/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PK0cMu_KmHQ/Tvvx_9K3lYI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZD3aF8u-hiY/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1taP_H17Fc/TvvyBpUns3I/AAAAAAAAD-0/Z4-q9Hetexc/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1taP_H17Fc/TvvyBpUns3I/AAAAAAAAD-0/Z4-q9Hetexc/s320/IMG_1802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've seen the shells of these things on the beach sometimes.<br />I think they're called horseshoe crabs. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1apmKXzksVY/TvvyE39yFAI/AAAAAAAAD-8/HXxzHbirgC8/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1apmKXzksVY/TvvyE39yFAI/AAAAAAAAD-8/HXxzHbirgC8/s320/IMG_1803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WeXYmnnbsg/TvvyIrQ6O3I/AAAAAAAAD_E/HmZK6oqTHkY/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--WeXYmnnbsg/TvvyIrQ6O3I/AAAAAAAAD_E/HmZK6oqTHkY/s320/IMG_1804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0O5ZTkccmU/TvvyJOXXlkI/AAAAAAAAD_I/92t8tv14zH4/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0O5ZTkccmU/TvvyJOXXlkI/AAAAAAAAD_I/92t8tv14zH4/s320/IMG_1805.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I smelled the most wonderful fragrant smell, turned around and&nbsp;saw this<br />old guy slicing and arranging his fruit. Could it have been quince I smelled?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2RB-TBZ3rZ4/TvvyNDAu8vI/AAAAAAAAD_U/NmS_BtYgzSI/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2RB-TBZ3rZ4/TvvyNDAu8vI/AAAAAAAAD_U/NmS_BtYgzSI/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chopping and cleaning fish, but you can get your Transformer toys here too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7kwluIgFYFQ/TvvyQeOrr3I/AAAAAAAAD_k/xos_EPw7mho/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7kwluIgFYFQ/TvvyQeOrr3I/AAAAAAAAD_k/xos_EPw7mho/s320/IMG_1807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were really nice little packages of&nbsp;small&nbsp;fish, each container about 4 inches in diameter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl-penbBwqY/TvvyOunGELI/AAAAAAAAD_c/8jHWUtGqUs8/s1600/IMG_1809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl-penbBwqY/TvvyOunGELI/AAAAAAAAD_c/8jHWUtGqUs8/s320/IMG_1809.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lady was doing some delicate work on what looked like a doily. She was a moto&nbsp;taxi&nbsp;driver, and apparently<br />a grandmother. I gave her 40 baht to take me back to check out of the hotel on the back of her scooter.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYrJBZgp_NY/TvvyShvoxDI/AAAAAAAAD_s/s__AohIMqCw/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CYrJBZgp_NY/TvvyShvoxDI/AAAAAAAAD_s/s__AohIMqCw/s320/IMG_1810.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brand spankin' new army truck parked in the shade, still smells like fresh paint.<br />Got a trooper sacked out in the back there, it's about 10:00 AM</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿All checked in to the new hotel now, room number 007 at the Immueang Hotel, 12/9 Naebkeharst Rd. I took the key downstairs and goofed around with the ladies there, acting like a secret agent and shooting with the key. They just shook their heads. Lighten up ladies. Directly across from the hotel is a short street, can see the beach from here. At the corner is a little stand, and lots of tables and chairs behind it there. Some people I met while eating there told me that stand has been there for 33 years. The food was good and cheap. Had a beer and got sleepy, went back to the hotel to take a little nap. Hotel is fine, everything I need.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-EZNvTyt88/TvxUzS4l9zI/AAAAAAAAEA8/sgVr8g-wbOI/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-EZNvTyt88/TvxUzS4l9zI/AAAAAAAAEA8/sgVr8g-wbOI/s320/IMG_1812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>&nbsp;I leave tomorrow morning, decided to spend New Year's in Bangkok, so just booked a room in a big fancy hotel a little while ago, the Amari Atrium. It got excellent reviews, but all I hope for is a comfortable bed.<br /><br /><br />I've decided I'm&nbsp;tired of Hua Hin.&nbsp;Though I did meet some nice folks there, it's really only so long I can hang out with new friends and make a nuisance of myself. I felt I'd spent enough time there to get a feel for what it's like. I suppose I'd enjoy living in Hua Hin if I could get out of the noise of town, like in a condo or rented apartment in the foothills or such, and find some sort of activity to keep me busy.&nbsp;I went to the so-called "maze" last night, a criss-crossing of alleys and narrow streets in the vicinity of the Hilton, consisting of mostly bars and massage parlors. It took about 30 minutes, walking amongst the tourists, and was not very interesting. Then I saw a&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;and yielded to the urge for a burger, fries and coke--it tasted pretty good. Caught a moto back to the hotel for 40 baht and went to sleep early. Packed it all up about 9:30 AM or so and caught a van back to Bangkok.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi_5V3Tslgc/Tv6FK4M64eI/AAAAAAAAEBg/OpBJFy76YKw/s1600/IMG_1813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi_5V3Tslgc/Tv6FK4M64eI/AAAAAAAAEBg/OpBJFy76YKw/s320/IMG_1813.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I've grown weary of these 12 passenger vans. They're cheap,<br />but this is what you see if you're my height.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>The two hour trip went pretty fast. These vans drop you off at a place called&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Monument,_Bangkok" target="_blank">Victory Monument</a>,&nbsp;parking around the monument. It seems to be a place where few tourists go. I've been there several times now and always a little trouble finding someone who speaks English, but it's not too big a problem. Everybody's as helpful as they can be.<br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-61762591719128916502011-12-28T03:30:00.001-08:002012-04-03T18:33:35.659-07:0012. Hua Hin day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went to have coffee at a shop down the street from <a href="http://www.hotel-uno.com/" target="_blank">Sascha's Uno Hotel</a> the very first day I arrived in Bangkok few weeks ago﻿. I met a Dutch man there and we chatted about different places in Thailand. He told me that he liked to spend time in Hua Hin, even for months on end. So I decided to take the 2 hour van trip down west of Bangkok on the coast to check it out. </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VxjKU0iC8g/Tvr8iSUkmjI/AAAAAAAAD84/FoLByYf575Q/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3VxjKU0iC8g/Tvr8iSUkmjI/AAAAAAAAD84/FoLByYf575Q/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really nice gate. I didn't pay attention if it was a residence or a guest house.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a nice place, much less hectic than Bangkok, but more touristy than Rangsit. They tell me it's very popular with retirees and golfers, and it's&nbsp;larger than I thought. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿﻿ </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-et4lV7IPaK4/Tvr8PnXrAPI/AAAAAAAAD7M/RRq539LQC7E/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-et4lV7IPaK4/Tvr8PnXrAPI/AAAAAAAAD7M/RRq539LQC7E/s320/IMG_1754.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street scene near the bus station</td></tr></tbody></table>﻿I met some new friends on the trip, Jerry and Shannon. They are Canadians living in Islamabad, Pakistan and teaching at an international school there. Jerry talked with me the entire trip, and they both informed me that Pakistan is a great place to live. Of course I inquired about the violence and kidnappings you hear about on the news, and they both insist it's a bunch of overblown hype. <br /><br />When we arrived at the Hua Hin bus station we started walking around trying to get our bearings and thinking about the best way to go about finding&nbsp;their guest house. I just tagged along since I didn't feel like reinventing the wheel. I'd take a look at their place and see if I wanted to stay there too.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-PVJJyTFMU/Tvr8PSW9UII/AAAAAAAAD7Q/59LC-ABx8kU/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-PVJJyTFMU/Tvr8PSW9UII/AAAAAAAAD7Q/59LC-ABx8kU/s320/IMG_1756.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just looking around. Lots of traffic, like everywhere else.</td></tr></tbody></table>﻿They took a room at this place, and I did too. It's way more expensive for what you get than any other place I've stayed at in Thailand, 1,800 baht. And no breakfast, internet computers or even a place to eat breakfast nearby. But it's 2 min. from the ocean and it seems very luxurious. If I don't like it tomorrow, I'll move. Then we all took a walking tour of the downtown area and part of the beach, ending near the Hilton, a real palace of a hotel. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8upMPgd7JE/Tvr8Oi1v5vI/AAAAAAAAD7E/xzVcdgolJCc/s1600/IMG_1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8upMPgd7JE/Tvr8Oi1v5vI/AAAAAAAAD7E/xzVcdgolJCc/s320/IMG_1757.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Huff, not sure if that's how you spell it. He's a photo journalist<br />posing here&nbsp;with a copy of his travel book of Pakistan (it's not in English)</td></tr></tbody></table>I got to meet Huff,&nbsp;a really interesting guy and old friend of Shannon. He runs a nice little bookstore called "Rhythm &amp; Books" selling jazz records, art, etc. There's a write up&nbsp;on him&nbsp;<a href="http://huahinartsguide.com/the-complete-hua-hin-arts-guide/arts-places/notable-book-and-music-shops/" target="_blank">here</a>, halfway down the page.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQNmHXb8k4I/Tvr8SqsnlkI/AAAAAAAAD7c/JK8PZG15Igc/s1600/IMG_1760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQNmHXb8k4I/Tvr8SqsnlkI/AAAAAAAAD7c/JK8PZG15Igc/s320/IMG_1760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not really a very good beach today...run for it dude.</td></tr></tbody></table>There were high winds the last couple days, very unusual, and some tide walls were knocked down. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt22fACxFSE/Tvr8TZ1LO_I/AAAAAAAAD7o/-jBftg5FV04/s1600/IMG_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt22fACxFSE/Tvr8TZ1LO_I/AAAAAAAAD7o/-jBftg5FV04/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guesthouse is on the north part of town, this is looking south along the beach.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TeP_JcKabzQ/Tvr8TKdhCuI/AAAAAAAAD7k/5FRfcX8TKoQ/s1600/IMG_1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TeP_JcKabzQ/Tvr8TKdhCuI/AAAAAAAAD7k/5FRfcX8TKoQ/s320/IMG_1766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winds were kicking up a little.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vt6g_1daD68/Tvr8Vdtno7I/AAAAAAAAD70/ve5CGiq7Irw/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vt6g_1daD68/Tvr8Vdtno7I/AAAAAAAAD70/ve5CGiq7Irw/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The avenue we walked down, towards the Hilton.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NixS352HNWM/Tvr8XFXT3VI/AAAAAAAAD78/HiVbMNNNikU/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NixS352HNWM/Tvr8XFXT3VI/AAAAAAAAD78/HiVbMNNNikU/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bus came in about 2 PM, and it was around 3:30 when we started walking.<br />Lots of kids getting out of school. This one kid was really conked out.&nbsp;The other one<br />wasn't really as&nbsp;dopey as she looks, I unfortunately caught her in mid-bite.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaKWUSxYnBQ/Tvr8YtdlwJI/AAAAAAAAD8E/9bfcCEoD7Os/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaKWUSxYnBQ/Tvr8YtdlwJI/AAAAAAAAD8E/9bfcCEoD7Os/s320/IMG_1769.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always fascinated by these different kinds of bicycles they have over here. </td></tr></tbody></table>﻿ ﻿ <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PUU5vwLR_I/Tvr8Z-7bSdI/AAAAAAAAD8M/aFnvWATly0E/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PUU5vwLR_I/Tvr8Z-7bSdI/AAAAAAAAD8M/aFnvWATly0E/s320/IMG_1770.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As far as I can tell, this is a Thai Santa sporting boxing gloves</td></tr></tbody></table>﻿﻿<br />Our walk took us by this one restaurant way out on the end of a pier, with some nice scenes. We hung out there about half an hour and drank a beer.<br /><br />﻿ <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FohcOTIWsss/Tvr8hfq7auI/AAAAAAAAD8w/73gMKDbaceE/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FohcOTIWsss/Tvr8hfq7auI/AAAAAAAAD8w/73gMKDbaceE/s320/IMG_1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>﻿ <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_wnM6AqfbY/Tvr8hPqS1RI/AAAAAAAAD8s/AI5JveJqEK8/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_wnM6AqfbY/Tvr8hPqS1RI/AAAAAAAAD8s/AI5JveJqEK8/s320/IMG_1775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxnrQr1m5uM/Tvr8ePlGqKI/AAAAAAAAD8k/BRKvyWbJX0Q/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xxnrQr1m5uM/Tvr8ePlGqKI/AAAAAAAAD8k/BRKvyWbJX0Q/s320/IMG_1774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OI5zaARaRc/Tvr8ctk2WbI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/fsAFv_JyDmM/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0OI5zaARaRc/Tvr8ctk2WbI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/fsAFv_JyDmM/s320/IMG_1772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LGJe2B3sibc/Tvr8cbkum7I/AAAAAAAAD8U/x4tSju2_sFE/s1600/IMG_1771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LGJe2B3sibc/Tvr8cbkum7I/AAAAAAAAD8U/x4tSju2_sFE/s320/IMG_1771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>﻿Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-33154426766660637782011-12-25T19:56:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:32:52.616-07:0011. Return to Bangkok - RangsitBack to Bangkok. I thought about traveling all the way to Hua Hin on down along the western coast past the city, but then I thought maybe I'll try staying in the outskirts of Bangkok for a night.&nbsp;I think I'll have a look at Rangsit, which was pretty hard hit by the floods. I don't think any place around there is flooded anymore, but we'll take a tour and have a look. I'll surely want to visit the old capital at Ayutthaya while I'm in that area. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g436icHwu68/Tvk9JyndWkI/AAAAAAAAD04/Csk4kY9Id3Q/s1600/IMG_1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g436icHwu68/Tvk9JyndWkI/AAAAAAAAD04/Csk4kY9Id3Q/s320/IMG_1690.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top floor of the Hotel Manhatten in Rangsit, looking across<br />a landscape&nbsp;of factories, warehouses, residences, and rice paddies.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDYqF34uspU/Tvk9J6uATjI/AAAAAAAAD08/iaib4cMcEc8/s1600/IMG_1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDYqF34uspU/Tvk9J6uATjI/AAAAAAAAD08/iaib4cMcEc8/s320/IMG_1691.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family dining facilities in my hotel room, Japanese style.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The trip back to Bangkok was fast and easy, high speed freeways all the way and about a two hour trip. I did not want to stay again in Bangkok proper just yet. I had a choice of continuing on westward along the coast or stop for a while. I prefer my travel in small chunks after the cruddy bus ride from Sihanoukville to Pattaya, so will stay a bit off the beaten tourist path. Rangsit is north and slightly east of Bangkok city center about 45 minutes, home to large complexes of factories and warehouses inbetween rice fields and residential areas. It was boring and that seems to be OK with me today.<br /><br />My plans for the evening? Just relax, walk around and see how regular Thai people&nbsp;live. I topped up my phone with 100 baht credit at a little shop. Found an internet cafe that caters to gamers, and all the chairs were a type of recliner I never saw before, designed so you can slouch and play computer games I guess. I smile and say hello to people, and some can speak a little English, are happy to try. I'm trying to learn some Thai, not a language with an overabundance of words like English, but the meanings can change with inflection and pitch, all of which I'm clueless about of course. Some are rather odd concepts, like the words yes and no: chai for "yes", and mai chai for "not yes"! Of course we have similar odd things in English, don't forget. There are no signs in English in this part of town...no one trying to sell me anything.&nbsp;Only sincere people&nbsp;asking "Where you from?" (I've learned most of the time it's the calling card of the tout).<br /><br />I'm staying at the <a href="http://www.hotelmanhattan.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Manhattan</a>, a bit older hotel situated in an area that had about waist-deep water last month. The streets are still dusty and there is piles of debris still in front of once thriving businesses that have closed because of the worst flooding in 60 years. After I got settled it's out for a walk in the neighborhood, and watch the sun go down.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGHF7uwT3io/Tvk9WUG8AiI/AAAAAAAAD1o/8XNfLz0DY7g/s1600/IMG_1696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGHF7uwT3io/Tvk9WUG8AiI/AAAAAAAAD1o/8XNfLz0DY7g/s320/IMG_1696.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment buildings with store fronts in the bottoms as far as the eye can see.<br />The tall building in the distance is where I stayed, Hotel Manhattan.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44nT8Yu7yb4/Tvk9OGIW7UI/AAAAAAAAD1M/BUhuti2TVS0/s1600/IMG_1692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44nT8Yu7yb4/Tvk9OGIW7UI/AAAAAAAAD1M/BUhuti2TVS0/s320/IMG_1692.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many stores closed due to the flood, and cleanup efforts ongoing.&nbsp;Dark line on<br />the side of the building indicates high water line, about waist deep to me.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YujppJB0Yc/Tvk9SIrXUBI/AAAAAAAAD1c/FjyLj9XoJ_0/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9YujppJB0Yc/Tvk9SIrXUBI/AAAAAAAAD1c/FjyLj9XoJ_0/s320/IMG_1694.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusty, dirty streets from dried water, flooded only weeks ago</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvbFJ00oWb0/Tvk9V8XZIrI/AAAAAAAAD1k/7MwBXXrINO4/s1600/IMG_1695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvbFJ00oWb0/Tvk9V8XZIrI/AAAAAAAAD1k/7MwBXXrINO4/s320/IMG_1695.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel entrance ramp to reception. Hotel narrowly missed getting flooded.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8590v2Gx6k/Tvk9wN1NbxI/AAAAAAAAD2s/pFFmLujeQpg/s1600/IMG_1704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8590v2Gx6k/Tvk9wN1NbxI/AAAAAAAAD2s/pFFmLujeQpg/s320/IMG_1704.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closed businesses didn't clean up, just left. Other businesses sweep their<br />debris over next door if there's no one there now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The night market was fun. It just started to come alive when I got there, lots of people getting stuff to take home for dinner.&nbsp;Only regular Thai people shopping for the evening meal at the night market, walking around with their babies, turning their heads to look at me when they think I don't notice.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHQfYZYiIdw/Tvk9fCV0OyI/AAAAAAAAD2E/dg8Ej6fex7s/s1600/IMG_1700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHQfYZYiIdw/Tvk9fCV0OyI/AAAAAAAAD2E/dg8Ej6fex7s/s320/IMG_1700.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many families at the market, everybody very friendly,<br />nobody trying to sell me something I don't want. Refreshing.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUItvyYmHLI/Tvk9pzS3sxI/AAAAAAAAD2U/asewMmQdRsE/s1600/IMG_1701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aUItvyYmHLI/Tvk9pzS3sxI/AAAAAAAAD2U/asewMmQdRsE/s320/IMG_1701.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYCRPPvhGUE/Tvk9sZiZouI/AAAAAAAAD2g/kPtcnTfLfJI/s1600/IMG_1702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYCRPPvhGUE/Tvk9sZiZouI/AAAAAAAAD2g/kPtcnTfLfJI/s320/IMG_1702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFUzWPIEvh0/Tvk9sYrcVWI/AAAAAAAAD2c/y5VLBcHUdFQ/s1600/IMG_1703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UFUzWPIEvh0/Tvk9sYrcVWI/AAAAAAAAD2c/y5VLBcHUdFQ/s320/IMG_1703.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stopped at this little place and bought what I thought was chicken breast. <br />It was some kind&nbsp;of cut that was anything but meaty...maybe it was a back.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>On past the market were many other stores, all of them in the bottom of the apartment buildings, and most all with metal roll-up doors exactly like a storage unit back home. Most were specialized in what they sold.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wsbPwopMKw/Tvk9Y-YpfTI/AAAAAAAAD10/hgoRy6R5Tq0/s1600/IMG_1697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wsbPwopMKw/Tvk9Y-YpfTI/AAAAAAAAD10/hgoRy6R5Tq0/s320/IMG_1697.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shop sold only eggs. They were priced many different ways, not sure why.<br />They&nbsp;all looked like chicken eggs to me, but about half were dyed different colors.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2adE2tiJr4Q/Tvk9eYqkRVI/AAAAAAAAD2A/tECIWq5WCks/s1600/IMG_1698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2adE2tiJr4Q/Tvk9eYqkRVI/AAAAAAAAD2A/tECIWq5WCks/s320/IMG_1698.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General store</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lr-Vv-qItqo/Tvk9egX0PuI/AAAAAAAAD18/xMCDi3nDJPk/s1600/IMG_1699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lr-Vv-qItqo/Tvk9egX0PuI/AAAAAAAAD18/xMCDi3nDJPk/s320/IMG_1699.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one seemed to sell only rice products, all different kinds&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Back to the hotel and try to find something on TV, but no HBO. Most of the time I watch Al Jazeera news. I'm impressed with the global network of this new organization and their in depth coverage of news from around the world. I've always been disappointed with the lack of world news coverage on American television. I'll have to watch it more when I get home. I finally get sleepy and hit the hay, but the bed is hard as a rock--surprise! Makes my bones ache.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Next morning</span><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;">Woke up about 7:00 AM and headed downstairs looking for coffee. It was a pretty good breakfast, but few American breakfast items like sausage or hashbrowns here, only toast and cold poached eggs. It seems to be how Asians prefer eggs, that or hard boiled, though you can ask for them cooked another way. Plenty of stir fried offerings with rice, same as dinner or lunch food. Coffee was OK.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The hotel does not have computers I can use, but the receptionist graciously allowed me to sit at her desk and use her computer in the back office as long as it was only to check email (I'm sneaking in some typing here), and no photo uploading.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">After checking email, I walk around slowly outside and watch the morning. There are babies everywhere, all bundled up with little gloves on. People have sweaters and scarves on. I saw a bus driver with a stocking cap. The temperature here feels like 72 degrees F with a gentle breeze, absolutely delightful for me, but for them it must seem like a real chill.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Since it's early, and this is definitely not a tourist part of town, I'm not quite sure what to do this morning. I might hop on a moto if I can find it, and have him just scoot around the area so I can see some parts. A helicopter ride would be ideal if I were not terrified of heights. I suppose I'll just put my shoes on and take a hike down the street. I walked around a lot last night in my flip flops, but the streets are very dusty and dirty from debris and dried flood water just weeks ago, which had a lot of diseases in it. Are all the germs dead because it's dried up? I don't know. People here don't seem too concerned, but some do have the surgical masks on.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I don't put the shoes on, nobody else does. Go for a walk, southwards I think. Found an old guy to run me around for a while. He&nbsp;was standing around waiting for a fare and said hello to me, one of the few who could converse a little. We chatted a while before I decided to hire him to take me&nbsp;around for half an hour or so. We haggled on the price for a little while, finally settled on 100 baht. I don't&nbsp;know if it's too much. He said something to his buddies who laughed. Did he tell them, "Hey look guys at me guys, I got me a whopper!" or "This stupid farang doesn't know how to dicker!" As we rode off, I yelled "Too much!" and they all busted out laughing.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v21BPT9g87M/Tvk9JDdcG_I/AAAAAAAAD00/xuXgtdNPxjM/s1600/IMG_1740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v21BPT9g87M/Tvk9JDdcG_I/AAAAAAAAD00/xuXgtdNPxjM/s320/IMG_1740.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This moto caught him a whopper. Bet I weigh as much as some entire Thai families</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RVqD6XhT0k/Tvk9-Yy2YsI/AAAAAAAAD3g/T9MoRDzQdGo/s1600/IMG_1727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RVqD6XhT0k/Tvk9-Yy2YsI/AAAAAAAAD3g/T9MoRDzQdGo/s320/IMG_1727.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These machines are quiet, smooth, economical, and ubiquitous.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v21BPT9g87M/Tvk9JDdcG_I/AAAAAAAAD00/xuXgtdNPxjM/s1600/IMG_1740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cj5UjHSEosE/Tvk-C0nWsDI/AAAAAAAAD3s/rZgWUixq-_0/s1600/IMG_1728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cj5UjHSEosE/Tvk-C0nWsDI/AAAAAAAAD3s/rZgWUixq-_0/s320/IMG_1728.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Factories and such, along the canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUfi7t155W0/Tvk-D7P_PvI/AAAAAAAAD30/IlraIaxPoTY/s1600/IMG_1730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUfi7t155W0/Tvk-D7P_PvI/AAAAAAAAD30/IlraIaxPoTY/s320/IMG_1730.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He drove me around until my butt hurt, pointing out this and that</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZofPitIfM/Tvk-EftgsfI/AAAAAAAAD34/gyu3wtQLnBQ/s1600/IMG_1734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZofPitIfM/Tvk-EftgsfI/AAAAAAAAD34/gyu3wtQLnBQ/s320/IMG_1734.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More illegal structures built out over the canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3adbhL7L6E/Tvk-IIZBK-I/AAAAAAAAD4E/Z9HPirji0lQ/s1600/IMG_1735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3adbhL7L6E/Tvk-IIZBK-I/AAAAAAAAD4E/Z9HPirji0lQ/s320/IMG_1735.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An ENORMOUS food market</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mQX0CLtlzs/Tvk-MA5ZspI/AAAAAAAAD4M/S-cWh8CL2CQ/s1600/IMG_1736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mQX0CLtlzs/Tvk-MA5ZspI/AAAAAAAAD4M/S-cWh8CL2CQ/s320/IMG_1736.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each avenue seemed to carry only one thing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2pDayfpo5I/Tvk-NVFWC-I/AAAAAAAAD4U/jptQNbU6AYA/s1600/IMG_1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2pDayfpo5I/Tvk-NVFWC-I/AAAAAAAAD4U/jptQNbU6AYA/s320/IMG_1737.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries I think</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRIiLAhbuw8/Tvk-OyCafaI/AAAAAAAAD4c/lTmMQww2TYs/s1600/IMG_1738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRIiLAhbuw8/Tvk-OyCafaI/AAAAAAAAD4c/lTmMQww2TYs/s320/IMG_1738.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durian fruit: <i>"Tastes like heaven, smells like hell"</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finished up with the taxi ride, walked some more to work out the kinks.&nbsp;In the car park of the hotel I find the attendant having tea with his wife in the booth, and hanging outside were about five small bird cages with some pretty little birds in them. Some were singing.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHnIuuk97tU/Tvk90JE7Q-I/AAAAAAAAD24/hhKGgCY2hfg/s1600/IMG_1709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHnIuuk97tU/Tvk90JE7Q-I/AAAAAAAAD24/hhKGgCY2hfg/s320/IMG_1709.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone know what kind of bird this is?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This one was sitting atop the hood of an SUV in the parking lot and was not singing, just turning somersaults over and over again--don't know if he was stir crazy or just having a good time and showing it. Here's a video of him, hope it works OK for you.<br /><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dza69tCA89dM4SiADgAX4NMl7myzlWlO5TDJ8Lu7v1KtC0A8Etz04UlzqTkiTcGFlPoKAo8U659JNqHin-W7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><br /><br />Stopped at a fruit stand because the seller said hello and asked where I'm from, just being sociable. I try to chat with him, but he doesn't know enough English to talk very long He hands me a small citrus fruit, looks like a "Lil' Cutie", very ripe and delicious and 100 baht per kilo. I chose a container of sliced papaya. They say papa-YA. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUPWx6OLoFw/Tvk93TwCTuI/AAAAAAAAD3E/QEPYFwBlnu4/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lUPWx6OLoFw/Tvk93TwCTuI/AAAAAAAAD3E/QEPYFwBlnu4/s320/IMG_1713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The papaya was not as sweet as I've had before, but it was good<br />so I ate all of it. 20 baht. I'm a little behind on my fruit</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not far down there was a canal, and a little past that a freeway so turned back and walked along the canal a bit. All along it were squatters who built shacks out over the water with their front doors on the road. I'd read about the "illegal structures" built in the canals which had hindered drainage of the flood waters...don't know if that's these or some other kinds of structures. Supposed to be a crackdown on them but not yet, apparently. I guess people need to live somewhere, but do they have to bring their<br />!?%$#@ roosters??<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NzhkBpcrjLI/Tvk99OS5afI/AAAAAAAAD3U/WL_6_rSEsV4/s1600/IMG_1715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NzhkBpcrjLI/Tvk99OS5afI/AAAAAAAAD3U/WL_6_rSEsV4/s320/IMG_1715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Housing built out over the canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQs8vgXhAWw/TvoBAOlzhvI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/u8DBP-6kINA/s1600/IMG_1717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQs8vgXhAWw/TvoBAOlzhvI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/u8DBP-6kINA/s320/IMG_1717.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shut UP you FREAKIN' ghetto, mangy bird. Struttin' around&nbsp;like MICK JAGGER <br />squawkin' your stupid lungs out. </td></tr></tbody></table>Did I mention how much I hate roosters?&nbsp;Goddamn little sleep killers.<br /><br />Walked around a little and found an internet cafe that was opened, so posted these photos and typed some. It's just about noon now, tired of this, thinking about lunch. Maybe a beer. Later today I'll try to head over to Ayutthaya for a tour, it's straight west of me I think.<br /><br />I never did get to Ayutthaya. Maybe next time, still have a few days. Was informed it's swamped with tourists anyway since it's still so near the new year. However, I did get lost in a monster mall and stopped in to meet some angels in a hospital.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QR-xLnQR58/TvoBLki_m7I/AAAAAAAAD6k/A5ilsVpQ_9Q/s1600/IMG_1743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QR-xLnQR58/TvoBLki_m7I/AAAAAAAAD6k/A5ilsVpQ_9Q/s320/IMG_1743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pen, Prayer, and&nbsp;Kan. Prayer is pretty proud of the dress Kan made&nbsp;for her&nbsp;doll out of NOTHING.<br />Well, out of a napkin and a pin.&nbsp;These people are geniuses.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Prayer is an 8 year old whose mother is an emergency room doctor. She speaks stunningly excellent English. She informed me she learned it when she lived in California. I assumed her mother was an intern there or something. She said she was born in California, but does not remember what city. Her parents left California when she was three. THREE?? I don't even remember anything when I was three. How can you learn perfect English by age three?? She told me all about her neighbor's dogs that she likes, and what she studies in school, and how much she likes dance, and opera--she covered her mouth and made a little squeak and I asked her what that was. She said it's an opera voice but she didn't want to get too loud. I hit my lowest tone and rose an octave in barely-tone splendor and turned heads in the waiting room to show her I like opera too.<br /><br />And now, some more pics of the regular, daily, everyday, no problem, everybody has one, no helmet, cheap, excellent, and IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN THE USA bicycles you find everywhere in Thailand. I remember as a child my friends and I "pumping" each other on the handlebars, or middle bar, or banana seat of our crappy stingray bicycles. Who remembers banana seats? Anybody? High five me. I remember offering a lift to some certain un-named people in my office when I had my bicycle. You know who you are. I wasn't kidding. You missed out, buddy.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCYTTMFSrs/TvoBEOAZv0I/AAAAAAAAD6c/WrmSGI3V3Tw/s1600/IMG_1741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TjCYTTMFSrs/TvoBEOAZv0I/AAAAAAAAD6c/WrmSGI3V3Tw/s320/IMG_1741.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beat up machine has seen some. Wish it was mine. Just look at it<i>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igiQ2EZRopE/TvoBMN_Hv_I/AAAAAAAAD6o/HiZzfOf4J5Q/s1600/IMG_1742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-igiQ2EZRopE/TvoBMN_Hv_I/AAAAAAAAD6o/HiZzfOf4J5Q/s320/IMG_1742.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is the exception. A rack instead of a cushioned pumper seat. Love it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AysOBnAkaJs/TvoA_pnFo6I/AAAAAAAAD6M/cc4vw416Z2w/s1600/IMG_1751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AysOBnAkaJs/TvoA_pnFo6I/AAAAAAAAD6M/cc4vw416Z2w/s320/IMG_1751.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some guy pretty pleased with himself in his fancy new polo shirt</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Rangsit...at first I thought it was a good idea. Then, as the day wore on and the next day started, I thought "Why did I do this?" Now, as the second day draws to a close, and I've had a taste of how regular Thai people live, I'm really glad I did this. Tomorrow I head southwest to Hua Hin to the land of the retirees and golf courses.<br /><br /></div></div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-36360344579318995562011-12-25T03:02:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:32:30.757-07:0010. Christmas on Jomtien Beach and Walking StreetI spent part of Christmas day on Jomtien Beach. I meant to go yesterday, but I got lazy. It was odd because the beach had a ceiling of umbrellas. Yes that's right, the entire beach was under umbrellas, perhaps 10,000 of them from the boardwalk to within about 15 feet of the water. That is a swath of about 75 or 100 feet wide along what seemed to be&nbsp;about&nbsp;one mile of beach. It felt like a cavern.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysnlZS0vUD4/TvcCI46F3yI/AAAAAAAADzM/Q1iEA45MvE0/s1600/IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ysnlZS0vUD4/TvcCI46F3yI/AAAAAAAADzM/Q1iEA45MvE0/s320/IMG_1673.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dWDNkgZ2OU/TvcCeFnQ7xI/AAAAAAAADzg/gnNg3Q3hM6g/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dWDNkgZ2OU/TvcCeFnQ7xI/AAAAAAAADzg/gnNg3Q3hM6g/s320/IMG_1674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO1IXr4FGyc/TvcCDwt0InI/AAAAAAAADy8/586CpqnNjDA/s1600/IMG_1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO1IXr4FGyc/TvcCDwt0InI/AAAAAAAADy8/586CpqnNjDA/s320/IMG_1671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The only people in bikinis and speedos are farang. All the western&nbsp;men I saw<br />were proudly strutting their stuff. Thais do not dress this way on the beach.</td></tr></tbody></table>Most Thais prize white skin and try not to be out in the sun. The umbrellas were either overlapping or pinned somehow to make a ceiling which let in almost no sunlight. It was bizarre.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYwcBuKfy00/TwfR2Pi9jSI/AAAAAAAAELY/BsvSlVMVB6c/s1600/IMG_1954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYwcBuKfy00/TwfR2Pi9jSI/AAAAAAAAELY/BsvSlVMVB6c/s320/IMG_1954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's bad.....and what's good.<br />Our skin whitening cream will make your dreams come true.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />You just park yourself and watch the world go by. Vendors come by and you can get whatever you want, from food to toys, to bed sheets and comforters. I got a papaya salad and a variety of deep fried things: tiny crabs that you eat every bit of, spring rolls, prawns, and other stuff. Also coconut milk to wash it down with.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTuagqRobsQ/TvcCd-gBQKI/AAAAAAAADzc/-Q0YjbHmKWI/s1600/IMG_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTuagqRobsQ/TvcCd-gBQKI/AAAAAAAADzc/-Q0YjbHmKWI/s320/IMG_1676.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papaya salad</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">One girl was selling birds in little cages. I read something about this somewhere before I left, it's done all over Asia and the middle east: you buy one or more birds, then you release them. It's supposed to make you feel good, give you a feeling of release and freedom. Someone told me they often are trained to return to the seller after release. I didn't try it.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_J7WBWwr5E/TvcCHYYQWMI/AAAAAAAADzE/rldfECDE3xs/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_J7WBWwr5E/TvcCHYYQWMI/AAAAAAAADzE/rldfECDE3xs/s320/IMG_1670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I ate way too much of these deep-fried goodies. She wanted to sell me more and more</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The weather was not hot on Christmas day. In fact it was rather too cool under the umbrella cavern because the wind was blowing pretty good.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XL3OFwNLtps/TvcCaP0F7WI/AAAAAAAADzU/yXh-I5ej1no/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XL3OFwNLtps/TvcCaP0F7WI/AAAAAAAADzU/yXh-I5ej1no/s320/IMG_1680.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working boat just off the beach</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I eventually spent a couple hours lounging in the hotel room and watching a James Bond movie. I stayed at a "Serviced Residence" (kitchenette) called <a href="http://www.atmindgroup.com/" target="_blank">@Mind</a>. It's very nice and I recommend it highly to anyone. I was happy with most everything at this hotel, and particularly enjoyed the breakfast. Did some shopping at one of the malls in the afternoon and bought a nice polo shirt. All my t-shirts are pretty ratty. When the afternoon wore on I went to an outdoor market and got buffeted and jostled until I felt hypnotized, and then finally went to see the infamous Walking Street when it got dark. I was tired by that time. Wow, what an unpleasant place it was, but now I can say I been there.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rEYv55dA21w/TvdDeTDUKKI/AAAAAAAAD0M/gGRzLGDhvLE/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rEYv55dA21w/TvdDeTDUKKI/AAAAAAAAD0M/gGRzLGDhvLE/s320/IMG_1688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking Street. Go-go bars and loud, loud loud.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I met up with Jeab, my acquaintance from Bangkok, who traveled here to visit her best friend for Christmas weekend. We went out to <a href="http://www.pattayaconcierge.com/specified-place/moom-aroi-restaurant-naklua-pattaya/200800000146/restaurant/" target="_blank">Moom Aroi</a> ("Yummy Corner"), a restaurant/bar with some of the best food I've had here, but it wasn't cheap. It was right on the beach with a cool gentle wind blowing, and I did not have a problem with mosquitos. We had several salads, including an oyster salad that I flipped over. I'm still remembering how good that was. I also ordered a plate of sushi, but it was not the best. Near the middle of the table there is a whole fish. Needless to say, I ate most of it. I think I might weigh more than both of these ladies combined. Since I was with civilized company, I refrained from sucking that fish's face, but I did not leave much meat on there.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ga_MGlW9Z80/TvdDcg0Qd2I/AAAAAAAAD0A/xKEF4L9ir9I/s1600/IMG_1681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ga_MGlW9Z80/TvdDcg0Qd2I/AAAAAAAAD0A/xKEF4L9ir9I/s320/IMG_1681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bar food, Thai style. Sooo good. The table looks littered with confetti, but it's marble.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVlUcQoBKLg/TvdDbz5I-1I/AAAAAAAADz8/9Ai4yUIxywE/s1600/IMG_1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVlUcQoBKLg/TvdDbz5I-1I/AAAAAAAADz8/9Ai4yUIxywE/s320/IMG_1682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fa, Jeab and yours truly</td></tr></tbody></table>Did I mention Thais love Christmas? I think for them it's all about the shopping...being an almost entirely Buddhist nation it's certainly not about religion. They also are crazy about the music. Can you imagine? Christmas music is right up there in my top three holiday peeves, but they just can't get enough of the same old songs we hear year after year.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1tnX6NoswU/TvdDn7WYhAI/AAAAAAAAD0U/5QVQ0W-b-ns/s1600/IMG_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1tnX6NoswU/TvdDn7WYhAI/AAAAAAAAD0U/5QVQ0W-b-ns/s320/IMG_1684.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the bar/restaurant this little girl was making the rounds with some elves to all<br />the tables and doing a little dance for photo ops, but after about 100 people taking<br />her picture she was getting a little cranky.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZbPUU6nJFY/TvdDpg6SkMI/AAAAAAAAD0c/DCGsutkzyHE/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZbPUU6nJFY/TvdDpg6SkMI/AAAAAAAAD0c/DCGsutkzyHE/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They like Christmas way more than I do.</td></tr></tbody></table>I ended up the night by trying to go see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, but was a little too late.&nbsp;That's when I made the detour to see Walking Street. Then&nbsp;I caught the baht bus back to the general vicinity of the hotel and then hopped on the back of a moto who delivered me back to the hotel for about a dollar.<br /><br />Oh, I ate so much spicy food this week. I just love it.Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-32957512418308776682011-12-24T18:08:00.000-08:002012-10-16T01:56:44.457-07:009. Bus trip to PattayaI don't check luggage anymore. I had some luggage lost once long ago, and I've resolved to never check luggage again. It's OK as long as I travel alone....probably wouldn't work if I traveled with a woman. This is my bag, the same backpack I walk to work with almost every morning. I have 5 weeks worth of stuff packed in there. You can do it if you want to, just got to learn how.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxPRP9wEEDE/TvZ-SZML0eI/AAAAAAAADw8/8mWC2l7SlVg/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxPRP9wEEDE/TvZ-SZML0eI/AAAAAAAADw8/8mWC2l7SlVg/s320/IMG_1614.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pack a mean suitcase</td></tr></tbody></table>This post is two days worth. I decided to take the bus trip from Sihanoukville to Pattaya, and man was that ever a mistake. It's the worst day since I've been here. The bus company came and gathered up everyone and took us to the bus station, and it left on time. But the mountainous road along the rocky coast was very twisty, up and down, and in poor repair in places. Often the bus had to slow to around 5 or 10 mph many times. The second half was a little faster.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BIxqiQ17Qb0/TvZ-YMvlsPI/AAAAAAAADxM/tsNVha2ZHww/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BIxqiQ17Qb0/TvZ-YMvlsPI/AAAAAAAADxM/tsNVha2ZHww/s200/IMG_1622.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough roads made for slow going</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2ozP1ktFXw/TvZ-e1NN4gI/AAAAAAAADxU/dmIcgZk2JO0/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2ozP1ktFXw/TvZ-e1NN4gI/AAAAAAAADxU/dmIcgZk2JO0/s200/IMG_1625.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to slow to a walk to cross this mess</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvzrWcY1XDM/TvZ-WAba5rI/AAAAAAAADxE/iGOJng2SOBM/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KvzrWcY1XDM/TvZ-WAba5rI/AAAAAAAADxE/iGOJng2SOBM/s200/IMG_1624.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potholes galore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G47nbEbInzY/TvZ-fiRzRAI/AAAAAAAADxY/WBno4dIKGmE/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G47nbEbInzY/TvZ-fiRzRAI/AAAAAAAADxY/WBno4dIKGmE/s200/IMG_1633.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bus arrives at Koh Kong border crossing</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUK_bxRsf1M/TvZ-lROqnqI/AAAAAAAADxk/o7REEwesJAc/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUK_bxRsf1M/TvZ-lROqnqI/AAAAAAAADxk/o7REEwesJAc/s200/IMG_1634.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk between border checkpoints seemed like<br />about half mile in the hottest part of the day</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's when we got to the border that things turned ugly. I had paid in Cambodia for a ticket through two countries, and perhaps that wasn't the smartest thing to do in hindsight. Once you pay, they have your money, and you are at their disposal. There was no bus waiting for us. We were left in the hottest part of the day to inquire to locals or whoever we saw as to where our bus could be met. After a while of walking up and down the Thai side of the border, about six people traveling to Pattaya congregated and we found someone who seemed to know what was going on. It seems the remainder of the trip would be in small passenger vans. What's more, the vans would not leave until they were full. As a result, we had to hang around almost two hours after our departure time. When enough passengers finally trickled in to make our quota, I was sandwiched into the back row with three other fat guys. All passengers were English speakers, and the rather surly driver spoke no English. We made three bus changes on the way, and each time the smaller and more evil of the passengers made a point of hogging the front seats, leaving the meek fatties squeezed together in the back row like so many water balloons. At the next stop I had to take it upon myself to implore some of the skinny passengers to please, <i>please</i> take the back seat. Only one silently agreed, the angel. Two ignored me, and the smallest and most wicked one leered at me and said &nbsp;"<i>I rather fancy the front seats".</i> At the last moment I appealed again, and things at last became quite a bit more fair. A frizzy haired old man who looked sort of like Albert Einstein and weighed all of about 100 lbs switched seat with the whale of our group (300 lbs?) and we were off. However, after my whining and griping about seating, the remainder of the ride was tense for me. Our scheduled arrival of 6:15 PM ended up being 9:30 PM. Never again. I'm flying from now on.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FbIJhncx4/TvZ-z4wNapI/AAAAAAAADyM/MTXBT50x3Xw/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANiuQdUSMEQ/TvZ-5SGswFI/AAAAAAAADyU/1bJaiPdbJyA/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANiuQdUSMEQ/TvZ-5SGswFI/AAAAAAAADyU/1bJaiPdbJyA/s320/IMG_1654.JPG" width="320" /></a>All I heard about Pattaya is that it is the center of the international sex tourism business. There is a small coastal region which is home of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBi_zcQClW4" target="_blank">Walking Street</a>, haven't been there yet. I suppose I should make my way down there and see what it's all about tonight. The majority of Pattaya is a large city, home&nbsp;mainly&nbsp;to the Thai workers&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;&nbsp;the large hotel and entertainment industry.&nbsp;Last night I went to a very fancy restaurant where I was the only <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang" target="_blank">farang</a></i>. I think it was called "The Living".&nbsp;It was very interesting to see young trendy Thais (I'm supposing most were successful Bankokians) in their own element. There was a band playing with drums, acoustic guitar, sax and a singer.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FbIJhncx4/TvZ-z4wNapI/AAAAAAAADyM/MTXBT50x3Xw/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9FbIJhncx4/TvZ-z4wNapI/AAAAAAAADyM/MTXBT50x3Xw/s320/IMG_1643.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />The songs were in a jazzy western pop style, and sounded so familiar...the words were in Thai, but it almost seemed they were in English and I simply could not understand the words, normal for me anyway with most rock and pop songs in English. The food was simply superb. I had a seafood mix in a&nbsp;blazingly hot&nbsp;sauce, with two appetizers and drinks with a small tip for about $25. Not cheap, but very reasonable for what I got.&nbsp;I then went to the <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Thailand/Central_Eastern_Thailand/Pattaya-1449746/Things_To_Do-Pattaya-Mini_Siam-BR-1.html" target="_blank">Mini Siam Museum</a>, where they had the world's great architectural sites in miniature.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_DRJbTSAY9s/TvZ-8ysq7yI/AAAAAAAADyc/eOXPg869JyM/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_DRJbTSAY9s/TvZ-8ysq7yI/AAAAAAAADyc/eOXPg869JyM/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_DRJbTSAY9s/TvZ-8ysq7yI/AAAAAAAADyc/eOXPg869JyM/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5cXo_1mUi0/TvZ-9mRNovI/AAAAAAAADyg/QE7B6VgfAuc/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5cXo_1mUi0/TvZ-9mRNovI/AAAAAAAADyg/QE7B6VgfAuc/s320/IMG_1665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">At first I thought it would be tacky, but it was all very interesting and well done. Well, except for the lighting. They really need to redo the string/plastic tube lighting. This work was quality enough and deserves a lighting upgrade. In the back corner of the complex was a model bank building that seemed out of place, nothing special. As it turns out it's the bank which supports this park, so they get their building in there too, alongside Angkor Wat, the Eiffel Tower and the Roman Coliseum.</div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I also went to a lookout point to get a view of the entire bay. It was really pleasant and cool up there, and I spent about an hour just hanging out and looking around.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djbVsUF57mk/TvZ-oepNkII/AAAAAAAADx0/wb0ZK0eao1U/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-djbVsUF57mk/TvZ-oepNkII/AAAAAAAADx0/wb0ZK0eao1U/s320/IMG_1636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattaya Bay. I've been told it's not a good beach, but Jomtien Beach<br />&nbsp;further south is quite good. Will find out later.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMH2t6zOKFQ/TvZ-uhmtJ7I/AAAAAAAADx8/y8xqlQm2gK0/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMH2t6zOKFQ/TvZ-uhmtJ7I/AAAAAAAADx8/y8xqlQm2gK0/s320/IMG_1640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were some beautiful flowering trees surrounding the lookout point. White, yellow and pink. They were out of reach so I could not tell if they were fragrant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mU9eZrjrZg0/TvZ-wflS6DI/AAAAAAAADyE/XJBAA8_aPgM/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mU9eZrjrZg0/TvZ-wflS6DI/AAAAAAAADyE/XJBAA8_aPgM/s320/IMG_1641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I feel rested now after that awful bus trip, so I think I will head down to Jomtien Beach this morning and see what that's like. The weather here is great, with a constant breeze coming in off the ocean. Just had breakfast and coffee and feeling strong. I hope everyone is well at home.Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731996466765109600.post-59807451545303180402011-12-22T05:02:00.000-08:002012-04-03T18:30:30.168-07:008. Ream National Park, CambodiaSomehow I met this guy named David. I say hello to about anyone who looks like they are open to it, it's yielded some nice acquaintances. I think he just strolled in while I was on my fourth beer night or two ago and we started talking. He has a rather lengthy story he always goes through when someone asks where he's from. English father, Danish Mother, spent time in grew up in England, Denmark, and recently some time in Dublin. Is that right David?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5i3pB4vTQMg/TvMb-hiVLoI/AAAAAAAADw0/rRUmw3BhBTs/s1600/IMG_1588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5i3pB4vTQMg/TvMb-hiVLoI/AAAAAAAADw0/rRUmw3BhBTs/s320/IMG_1588.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the hike, having lunch</td></tr></tbody></table>Anyway, last night he came by while I was vegetating and drinking beer, and he mentioned he was going on one of the boat trips, probably to the big park. So I said I'm up for that. I mean, sitting around on my ass all day drinking beer and looking at the ocean and snoozing for two days was about enough. It cost $20, that includes breakfast and lunch. The minibus came by just a few minutes before 8:00 AM driven by a fellow named Dara.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGTNtQs0MFY/TvMbYCH7psI/AAAAAAAADsg/kq1b30huYn8/s1600/IMG_1565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGTNtQs0MFY/TvMbYCH7psI/AAAAAAAADsg/kq1b30huYn8/s320/IMG_1565.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dara was a really nice guy and was our guide on the boat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTRhvcdch3s/TvMZ2ERI39I/AAAAAAAADng/Sf2sAirFCxA/s1600/IMG_1507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTRhvcdch3s/TvMZ2ERI39I/AAAAAAAADng/Sf2sAirFCxA/s200/IMG_1507.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We took the one hour trip to the park and were packed in the van like sardines</td></tr></tbody></table>It really took us a long time to get going, picking up passengers, stopping for breakfast, gas, and finally ended up with 12 I believe. I think we finally got to the boat at almost 10:00 AM. I took quite a few pics out the dirty front window and the side window of the and countryside as we drove through, and include more than I should here. I've been struck by the red dirt. This landscape often reminds me very much of Oklahoma with palm trees. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to arrange these pics and get them to do what I want....<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnYBdgsBDwc/TvMZs_1L_hI/AAAAAAAADnQ/sUd_dMyVr8s/s1600/IMG_1503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnYBdgsBDwc/TvMZs_1L_hI/AAAAAAAADnQ/sUd_dMyVr8s/s200/IMG_1503.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was at the far west end of<br />my beach, past the last hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2tONnKI2Mpw/TvMZsYIVXvI/AAAAAAAADnI/2xcxijZe36E/s1600/IMG_1504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2tONnKI2Mpw/TvMZsYIVXvI/AAAAAAAADnI/2xcxijZe36E/s200/IMG_1504.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of huge gold lions at the traffic<br />circle near the top of Serendipity Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Some views of the town as we drove through on the way to the park.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlfOb-Gvc5Y/TvMZ5WzP5bI/AAAAAAAADnw/PeXlMCiqh9c/s1600/IMG_1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlfOb-Gvc5Y/TvMZ5WzP5bI/AAAAAAAADnw/PeXlMCiqh9c/s200/IMG_1506.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTua9a9mZpQ/TvMZ4V4vBzI/AAAAAAAADno/9bzKiZKCKhU/s1600/IMG_1505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTua9a9mZpQ/TvMZ4V4vBzI/AAAAAAAADno/9bzKiZKCKhU/s200/IMG_1505.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hkfkAqfeOM/TvMaBGOatuI/AAAAAAAADoA/UBCBGtjpNy4/s1600/IMG_1509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hkfkAqfeOM/TvMaBGOatuI/AAAAAAAADoA/UBCBGtjpNy4/s200/IMG_1509.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJSk61NP9NE/TvMZ_Sx9JVI/AAAAAAAADn4/wuri9oQQKaU/s1600/IMG_1508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJSk61NP9NE/TvMZ_Sx9JVI/AAAAAAAADn4/wuri9oQQKaU/s200/IMG_1508.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apnUq7zStWw/TvMaJBY_CVI/AAAAAAAADoQ/m_UOOlxlnOs/s1600/IMG_1511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apnUq7zStWw/TvMaJBY_CVI/AAAAAAAADoQ/m_UOOlxlnOs/s200/IMG_1511.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hym_ccbKFB8/TvMaCpNik4I/AAAAAAAADoI/pFrVrr63eAU/s1600/IMG_1510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hym_ccbKFB8/TvMaCpNik4I/AAAAAAAADoI/pFrVrr63eAU/s1600/IMG_1510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hym_ccbKFB8/TvMaCpNik4I/AAAAAAAADoI/pFrVrr63eAU/s200/IMG_1510.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSRybbWNMEc/TvMaSIGSUOI/AAAAAAAADoo/6Qbna8i6oMc/s1600/IMG_1514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSRybbWNMEc/TvMaSIGSUOI/AAAAAAAADoo/6Qbna8i6oMc/s200/IMG_1514.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz_5PrjCmNA/TvMaKLLC3dI/AAAAAAAADoU/m1bfrvOq6Hc/s1600/IMG_1512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vz_5PrjCmNA/TvMaKLLC3dI/AAAAAAAADoU/m1bfrvOq6Hc/s200/IMG_1512.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTU6B8Zo1FQ/TvMaVhH5YgI/AAAAAAAADo0/lSDwzqo-9aQ/s1600/IMG_1516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTU6B8Zo1FQ/TvMaVhH5YgI/AAAAAAAADo0/lSDwzqo-9aQ/s200/IMG_1516.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNjyPmq_-8w/TvMaMdBfaPI/AAAAAAAADog/RIKqj-qA_b0/s1600/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNjyPmq_-8w/TvMaMdBfaPI/AAAAAAAADog/RIKqj-qA_b0/s200/IMG_1513.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jj9cnoj8lNk/TvMaXQyNuyI/AAAAAAAADpI/FggCVbpLTOk/s200/IMG_1523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UftGB9QabUY/TvMaVfbqpMI/AAAAAAAADow/PjcgxXLjWWc/s1600/IMG_1515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UftGB9QabUY/TvMaVfbqpMI/AAAAAAAADow/PjcgxXLjWWc/s200/IMG_1515.jpg" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gnc_Vk3-GUI/TvMaVzzxRWI/AAAAAAAADo4/fRMYdHJ23Jg/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gnc_Vk3-GUI/TvMaVzzxRWI/AAAAAAAADo4/fRMYdHJ23Jg/s200/IMG_1522.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was about an hour drive to where the boat was moored in the park. We had a couple guys in park uniforms, a guide and the captain, as well as Dara.&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C300EtYUjU/TvMaqFSsfzI/AAAAAAAADqE/rf1-g3zQw7w/s1600/IMG_1531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3C300EtYUjU/TvMaqFSsfzI/AAAAAAAADqE/rf1-g3zQw7w/s320/IMG_1531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1XMFBuPVDA/TvMabzFuogI/AAAAAAAADpQ/iG2vLua7ZLQ/s1600/IMG_1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1XMFBuPVDA/TvMabzFuogI/AAAAAAAADpQ/iG2vLua7ZLQ/s320/IMG_1524.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some houses to the side of the dock. I was holding the camera a little tilted</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s6GjMXSs-E/TvMacO4eTnI/AAAAAAAADpY/sSKrpE-f3TI/s1600/IMG_1525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4s6GjMXSs-E/TvMacO4eTnI/AAAAAAAADpY/sSKrpE-f3TI/s320/IMG_1525.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk to the boat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h519UQN6GX0/TvMacMbOLmI/AAAAAAAADpU/x-lCrqAkFPc/s1600/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h519UQN6GX0/TvMacMbOLmI/AAAAAAAADpU/x-lCrqAkFPc/s320/IMG_1526.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of shy kids hiding behind the post</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oqCYlc-pjs/TvMagzC2aqI/AAAAAAAADps/2CWyfs3WnbQ/s1600/IMG_1529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oqCYlc-pjs/TvMagzC2aqI/AAAAAAAADps/2CWyfs3WnbQ/s320/IMG_1529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sturdy vessel. You see a lot of these kinds of round bottomed boats.<br />They just call them long boats. Sort of tippy, but they are stable when loaded.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNl9fr5o01g/TvMbI7INZcI/AAAAAAAADro/N1s5mgmVPIE/s1600/IMG_1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNl9fr5o01g/TvMbI7INZcI/AAAAAAAADro/N1s5mgmVPIE/s320/IMG_1559.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a spot of fiberglass to be found. I bet I could build one of these<br />from Home Depot lumber. They really are about as cheap as you can get<br />and still have a sea-worth vessel. I like them.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRIfAVbSY0/TvMbHwJlRwI/AAAAAAAADrg/4rXPncrDWk0/s1600/IMG_1558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRIfAVbSY0/TvMbHwJlRwI/AAAAAAAADrg/4rXPncrDWk0/s320/IMG_1558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVfTgNw2CLY/TvMcC-8d-hI/AAAAAAAADuc/YqXrt9vMOvQ/s1600/IMG_1589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVfTgNw2CLY/TvMcC-8d-hI/AAAAAAAADuc/YqXrt9vMOvQ/s320/IMG_1589.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much water yet</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyowuEPUIn0/TvMcYup-f9I/AAAAAAAADvA/zIUN0X7E7ik/s1600/IMG_1595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyowuEPUIn0/TvMcYup-f9I/AAAAAAAADvA/zIUN0X7E7ik/s320/IMG_1595.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some details</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKf-_rdkOP0/TvMckaU8nlI/AAAAAAAADvg/N0brCzRDn5s/s1600/IMG_1597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKf-_rdkOP0/TvMckaU8nlI/AAAAAAAADvg/N0brCzRDn5s/s320/IMG_1597.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple, good and cheap. Plastic tarp held up by a hardwood framework <br />made up of screwed lap joints everywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7A-0wDEDv8/TvMb2aEK-TI/AAAAAAAADt4/Zplv1k43hA8/s1600/IMG_1584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7A-0wDEDv8/TvMb2aEK-TI/AAAAAAAADt4/Zplv1k43hA8/s320/IMG_1584.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dara said this is a good Japanese 13 hp gasoline engine designed for this kind<br />of vessel. I asked him about Chinese engines, he said they last about <br />three months and then <i>pfftt&nbsp;</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1pv254wJFvQ/TvMcF8pfg4I/AAAAAAAADuo/toKyOZbLUwU/s1600/IMG_1590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1pv254wJFvQ/TvMcF8pfg4I/AAAAAAAADuo/toKyOZbLUwU/s320/IMG_1590.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It sits on a swivel and the shaft and propellor are tilted down into the water as deep as you want.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBzK8j-Ml8A/TvMavTQ8VtI/AAAAAAAADqQ/KdEwYJOGQc0/s1600/IMG_1532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBzK8j-Ml8A/TvMavTQ8VtI/AAAAAAAADqQ/KdEwYJOGQc0/s320/IMG_1532.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outhouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oK5Z8aVbAUo/TvMaqIAQZgI/AAAAAAAADqA/KUGAu1cSPec/s1600/IMG_1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oK5Z8aVbAUo/TvMaqIAQZgI/AAAAAAAADqA/KUGAu1cSPec/s320/IMG_1536.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Ranger Sir takin' it easy.</td></tr></tbody></table>The hour long river trip brought us past people fishing, diving for oysters and shrimp in 1.5 meter water, fisherman shacks, permanent houses, and we saw a large salt water dolphin when the water began to get brackish. He didn't stay still long enough for me to get a shot. We were fortunate that he came up to about 20 feet away from the boat. Dara said it's a lucky day.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kmsFUXHpv4/TvMazaBR-sI/AAAAAAAADqY/ILwQrXd9Is0/s1600/IMG_1541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kmsFUXHpv4/TvMazaBR-sI/AAAAAAAADqY/ILwQrXd9Is0/s320/IMG_1541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couple of kids fishing. Wish I had a boat like this when I was a kid</td></tr></tbody></table>There were also a few egrets and what Dara said was a stork. Also some other birds of some kind. Sorry, I don't know a lot about birds and if I don't write it down I usually forget names.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtQYbm8Sibo/TvMa2WsuayI/AAAAAAAADqg/aK9r5kfPx8A/s1600/IMG_1543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtQYbm8Sibo/TvMa2WsuayI/AAAAAAAADqg/aK9r5kfPx8A/s320/IMG_1543.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really nice view. It's a beautiful river.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsNuwcRDOpQ/TvMa26SbMUI/AAAAAAAADqk/gLGb0sJsRwY/s1600/IMG_1544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsNuwcRDOpQ/TvMa26SbMUI/AAAAAAAADqk/gLGb0sJsRwY/s320/IMG_1544.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River bank. Mangroves?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AYyf0Rn6Ro/TvMa8ogGwlI/AAAAAAAADq4/evrOgU9BYJM/s1600/IMG_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AYyf0Rn6Ro/TvMa8ogGwlI/AAAAAAAADq4/evrOgU9BYJM/s320/IMG_1546.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palms that the locals use to roof their huts</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXv9GQJqslY/TvMa3GsAijI/AAAAAAAADqo/5UyLWW_1Flc/s1600/IMG_1545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXv9GQJqslY/TvMa3GsAijI/AAAAAAAADqo/5UyLWW_1Flc/s320/IMG_1545.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXcnr8KITCM/TvMbAMgPWZI/AAAAAAAADrI/UY7enRdD7Jk/s1600/IMG_1549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXcnr8KITCM/TvMbAMgPWZI/AAAAAAAADrI/UY7enRdD7Jk/s320/IMG_1549.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZKs6QUo08o/TvMa9MYi8mI/AAAAAAAADq8/oAKVP9n4rNg/s1600/IMG_1551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZKs6QUo08o/TvMa9MYi8mI/AAAAAAAADq8/oAKVP9n4rNg/s320/IMG_1551.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dara caught this crab in a crab pot as we motored along</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InYQOIvfsXM/TvMbBzuFCGI/AAAAAAAADrQ/0oQ5M6P0sms/s1600/IMG_1556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InYQOIvfsXM/TvMbBzuFCGI/AAAAAAAADrQ/0oQ5M6P0sms/s320/IMG_1556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your's truly, having a good time and getting a little pink</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NJ8JpsZQtbw/TvMbDic1RnI/AAAAAAAADrY/jaWMuLLqD2k/s1600/IMG_1557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NJ8JpsZQtbw/TvMbDic1RnI/AAAAAAAADrY/jaWMuLLqD2k/s320/IMG_1557.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People live here year round</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The hour long boat ride brought to a really nice beach where I went swimming for an hour and got nice and pink on my back. I thought about the sunscreen, but I don't care. Picked up some nice shells too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX5LDoarb6E/TvMboqWep_I/AAAAAAAADtQ/LCZHLJw4XRk/s1600/IMG_1573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX5LDoarb6E/TvMboqWep_I/AAAAAAAADtQ/LCZHLJw4XRk/s320/IMG_1573.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O7TDIZpwuRY/TvMbtbeKHhI/AAAAAAAADtg/5pOSnAc3_SE/s1600/IMG_1577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O7TDIZpwuRY/TvMbtbeKHhI/AAAAAAAADtg/5pOSnAc3_SE/s320/IMG_1577.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />They rounded us up and the we took about an hour march through the woods to where the boat would meet us.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bL6R15hwpGM/TvMb2XolwII/AAAAAAAADt8/eucY1HkHwyk/s1600/IMG_1580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bL6R15hwpGM/TvMb2XolwII/AAAAAAAADt8/eucY1HkHwyk/s320/IMG_1580.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty forest, but if you stop the mosquitos really get you. Time for deet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPyAlVlb8QY/TvMbxGQSGAI/AAAAAAAADto/txPnipXBm3Q/s1600/IMG_1581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mPyAlVlb8QY/TvMbxGQSGAI/AAAAAAAADto/txPnipXBm3Q/s320/IMG_1581.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some honkin' big spiders, just about head height!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVPbqVf7oIs/TvMb1o32NLI/AAAAAAAADtw/sBjRFCVaTTo/s1600/IMG_1583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVPbqVf7oIs/TvMb1o32NLI/AAAAAAAADtw/sBjRFCVaTTo/s320/IMG_1583.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to the shack which was out over the water, and had<br />cool&nbsp;welcome breezes off the river. This little guy was friendly<br />and followed us out there.....</td></tr></tbody></table>The shack and dock out in the where we had lunch was a possible place to stay while visiting. Dara said I could rent it for $5 a day. Cool breezes all day, no mosquitos out there, and a group of new friends stopping in for lunch every day. It's an appealing thought. I could help with making lunch for everybody or something.<br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5AqDdTzAZgY/TvMcCZX6aCI/AAAAAAAADuY/izs1wwYLCRI/s1600/IMG_1587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5AqDdTzAZgY/TvMcCZX6aCI/AAAAAAAADuY/izs1wwYLCRI/s320/IMG_1587.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....along this walkway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hPSLqgIKfk/TvMb7oJ-owI/AAAAAAAADuI/yzUhF75MoW8/s1600/IMG_1586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hPSLqgIKfk/TvMb7oJ-owI/AAAAAAAADuI/yzUhF75MoW8/s320/IMG_1586.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch. The fish was SO GOOD.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;After about a half hour we started back up again, and went to an observatory that was accessed by a long and rather treacherous pathway up a creek.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3J58L6zYmkg/TvMcY2RVktI/AAAAAAAADvE/mfpJOQef_Yw/s1600/IMG_1593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3J58L6zYmkg/TvMcY2RVktI/AAAAAAAADvE/mfpJOQef_Yw/s320/IMG_1593.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really had to watch your step along this</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0skwOQ4ZAfQ/TvMcPI2ZEBI/AAAAAAAADu4/l1aV1cvXNVA/s1600/IMG_1592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0skwOQ4ZAfQ/TvMcPI2ZEBI/AAAAAAAADu4/l1aV1cvXNVA/s320/IMG_1592.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmIBtk9Xpro/TvMci3Ay9jI/AAAAAAAADvY/Isk-bnvAItg/s1600/IMG_1594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmIBtk9Xpro/TvMci3Ay9jI/AAAAAAAADvY/Isk-bnvAItg/s320/IMG_1594.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tower was damn high and rather rickity with everyone<br />up on it, so I stayed on the ground</td></tr></tbody></table>Time to get going back to the home base, another hour boat ride after bailing out the boat.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZq-kzgfmKk/TvMchteaV-I/AAAAAAAADvQ/QEqQsR3_c-o/s1600/IMG_1598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZq-kzgfmKk/TvMchteaV-I/AAAAAAAADvQ/QEqQsR3_c-o/s320/IMG_1598.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--zz9rt-NZ1E/TvMcKoFJf3I/AAAAAAAADuw/La_lGmLJO4Q/s1600/IMG_1591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--zz9rt-NZ1E/TvMcKoFJf3I/AAAAAAAADuw/La_lGmLJO4Q/s320/IMG_1591.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Propeller shaft at rest</td></tr></tbody></table>After the lookout area, we headed back to home base, piled into the van and headed back to town. Dara had mentioned he only made about $40 each month. When we finally ended the trip, I tipped him $2, as well as each of the crew. There were 12 of us, and I know everyone wanted to tip them. One lady didn't have any change, not really sure about everyone....but if he works 30 days a month, getting average $10 or $20 in tips each day....that's a lot more than $40!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I was feeling very sweaty and tired after it all.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5s4kgG3Evw/TvMcq9WEW-I/AAAAAAAADvo/lO2Qv2-bzpU/s1600/IMG_1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5s4kgG3Evw/TvMcq9WEW-I/AAAAAAAADvo/lO2Qv2-bzpU/s320/IMG_1606.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back down Serendipity Road. New concrete being poured every day.</td></tr></tbody></table>I wanted to get back to my room and take a nice shower, then look for something cool to drink.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMIaoFMpNFU/TvMcsnykJsI/AAAAAAAADv4/bDtFIfU0mW4/s1600/IMG_1607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vMIaoFMpNFU/TvMcsnykJsI/AAAAAAAADv4/bDtFIfU0mW4/s320/IMG_1607.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go to the end of Serendipity Road and turn right up this lane, and there are<br />half a dozen little places. Mine is the third one down there, at the end of the<br />lane. A left turn there takes you to the beach, and that's where I had to tuck<br />&nbsp;my knees in tight on the back of the scooter. If you continue down the beach<br />there are about four more little hotels.</td></tr></tbody></table>Made it back to the hotel for a shower and change of clothes. Then hopped on a moto and went to this shop I found yesterday where they make yummy smoothies.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8GZbwnYNg/TvMc5mCfwPI/AAAAAAAADwY/q32hGMmVEqI/s1600/IMG_1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gm8GZbwnYNg/TvMc5mCfwPI/AAAAAAAADwY/q32hGMmVEqI/s320/IMG_1612.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banana-mango smoothie, mmmmmm....</td></tr></tbody></table>As I walked back slowly, took some pics of more bicycles that caught my eye.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfGxLhu-qhM/TvMcq0ltJxI/AAAAAAAADvs/h0dsn9ZNMvE/s1600/IMG_1605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfGxLhu-qhM/TvMcq0ltJxI/AAAAAAAADvs/h0dsn9ZNMvE/s320/IMG_1605.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked this one a lot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psYHFAjjMIQ/TvMczdakt_I/AAAAAAAADwE/ASDosJsowhc/s1600/IMG_1608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psYHFAjjMIQ/TvMczdakt_I/AAAAAAAADwE/ASDosJsowhc/s320/IMG_1608.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NXUtGMcx_o/TvMcy5Z82OI/AAAAAAAADwA/6mg6GKEIq_Y/s1600/IMG_1609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NXUtGMcx_o/TvMcy5Z82OI/AAAAAAAADwA/6mg6GKEIq_Y/s320/IMG_1609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFznJ_tUYTc/TvMc13EUylI/AAAAAAAADwQ/N-8A1yo1bB0/s1600/IMG_1610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kFznJ_tUYTc/TvMc13EUylI/AAAAAAAADwQ/N-8A1yo1bB0/s320/IMG_1610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etN8KgLw0aw/TvMc57QM0_I/AAAAAAAADwc/7yZ5VO3XAC8/s1600/IMG_1611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etN8KgLw0aw/TvMc57QM0_I/AAAAAAAADwc/7yZ5VO3XAC8/s320/IMG_1611.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />David should show up here any moment and we'll have dinner. I don't think he drinks, so he'll watch me put away a few beers. Get up pretty early to get to the bus station. I think it's a 12 hour bus ride to Pattaya, ugh.</div>Clay Ericksonhttps://plus.google.com/117898963243000205082noreply@blogger.com